Rhode Island's Changing Economic Profile
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Rhode Island's economy was rooted in trade and shipping; Newport and Providence were major Colonial-era ports for the import and export of agricultural and building products. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Rhode Island became a center of industrial production, with numerous textile, metal, and machinery companies. After World War II, Rhode Island's oceanside location and skilled workforce led to the growth of the defense, plastics and electronic industries. Later, Rhode Island's economy began to shift toward health care, education, financial activities and professional services. The following series of slides illustrate the changing economic structure of the state's economy.
Irena Nedeljkovic-Cunningham