Factories in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1,188 manufacturing establishments employing 40,210 people (Census County Business Patterns, 2023), 0.3% of US manufacturing jobs and the 42nd most of any state. The largest industries by employment are fabricated metal products, medical devices and other goods and food.
- Establishments
- 1,188
- Census 2023
- Manufacturing jobs
- 40,210
- Census 2023
- In EPA records
- 625
- Active, ECHO
- New plants
- 0
- 0 building
- Sheet
- RI
- Revised
- November 11, 2026
What is made in Rhode Island
| Industry (NAICS subsector) | Establishments | Employees | In EPA records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabricated metal products 332 | 219 | 9,505 | 126 |
| Medical devices and other goods 339 | 169 | 4,922 | 80 |
| Food 311 | 141 | 4,098 | 13 |
| Chemicals 325 | 69 | 3,845 | 64 |
| Computers and electronics 334 | 37 | 3,528 | 42 |
| Plastics and rubber 326 | 45 | 2,923 | 27 |
| Machinery 333 | 76 | 1,862 * | 33 |
| Primary metals 331 | 38 | 1,601 | 43 |
| Printing 323 | 93 | 1,514 | 26 |
| Textile mills 313 | 24 | 1,213 | 28 |
| Furniture 337 | 42 | 962 | 10 |
| Vehicles, aircraft and parts 336 | 40 | 950 | 51 |
| Paper 322 | 20 | 848 | 15 |
| Beverages and tobacco 312 | 43 | 740 | 1 |
| Electrical equipment and appliances 335 | 23 | 456 | 13 |
| Glass, cement and stone 327 | 38 | 436 | 15 |
| Wood products 321 | 32 | 372 | 13 |
| Textile products 314 | 28 | 308 | 6 |
| Leather goods 316 | 3 | 84 | 3 |
| Petroleum and coal products 324 | 4 | 32 | 16 |
| Apparel 315 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
Establishments and employees: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, mid-March employment. * Census flags this figure as having high noise. "In EPA records" counts active facilities in EPA's ECHO database, a subset that excludes plants EPA doesn't regulate.
New plants in Rhode Island
None in our tracker yet. Plants qualify with at least $25 million or 100 jobs announced since 2021 and a primary source.
Factory pages in Rhode Island
9 Rhode Island factories have their own page so far: the facilities that report to EPA's Toxics Release Inventory and hold the most detailed federal records. See all 9, grouped by industry.
Questions
What is made in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has 1,188 manufacturing establishments employing 40,210 people (Census County Business Patterns, 2023), 0.3% of US manufacturing jobs and the 42nd most of any state. The largest industries by employment are fabricated metal products, medical devices and other goods and food.
How many manufacturers are in Rhode Island?
1,188 manufacturing establishments (Census, 2023). EPA's ECHO database lists 625 active manufacturing facilities in Rhode Island that it regulates, 223 of which report to the Toxics Release Inventory.
Are new factories being built in Rhode Island?
We don't yet track a large new plant project in Rhode Island (at least $25 million or 100 jobs announced since 2021). Get alerts to hear when one is announced.
Can you tour a factory in Rhode Island?
Yes: Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Tours, Wright's Dairy Farm & Bakery Milking Viewing.