Healthcare, tourism and manufacturing are the most important industries for Rhode Island careers in the private sector. Education is also a strong cultural and economic force in the state. Postsecondary education is a major source of Providence, Rhode Island jobs; Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design are two of the leading schools in RI’s capital and most populous city. Finance, hospital care, and state and federal government are also principal creators of jobs in Providence.

Major corporations headquartered in Rhode Island include CVS, Textron and the toy company Hasbro. U.S. naval facilities in Newport also contribute to the RI economy. One of the most distinctive sources of Rhode Island jobs has been the production of jewelry and silverware. The textile industry was a leading employer from the colonial era until the early 20th century, but the manufacturing sector has since diversified. Tourism is gaining more attention as a primary creator of jobs in Rhode Island; it accounts for about 10% of revenue and employment in The Ocean State.