Hawaii County’s unemployment rate declined between February and March, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reports.
Hawaii County’s unemployment rate declined between February and March, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reports.
The island’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in March, down from 5.3 percent in February, and 5.2 percent in January, according to the department and data from the Hawaii Workforce Infonet. In March 2014, 5.7 percent of the island’s labor force was without a job.
March also marked the third consecutive month of declines in the island’s unemployment rate. In December 2014, the rate was 4.7 percent. The rate is down substantially from June 2011 when 11.1 percent of the Big Island’s workforce was unemployed.
The Big Island, however, continues to hold the highest unemployment rate among Hawaii’s four counties. Honolulu City and County’s unemployment rate in March was 3.6 percent, down from 3.9 percent in February; Maui County’s rate was 4.2 percent, down from 4.4 percent in February; and Kauai County’s rate was 4.5 percent, down from 4.9 percent, according to the department.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in March, unchanged from the month prior, according to the department. Some 4.5 of the statewide labor force was unemployed in March 2014.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, unchanged from February. The nationwide unemployment rate, however, is down more than a percentage point compared with a year ago, according to the department.
The number of unemployed people nationwide was 8.6 million, down from 8.7 million in December 2014, and 9.1 million in November 2014, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Across the state of Hawaii, 27,700 people were unemployed in March, down from 28,000 people in February. A year ago, 30,600 people held were without employment statewide, according to the department.
Hawaii Island’s labor force in March comprised 86,200 of whom 81,950 held jobs, according to preliminary statistics kept by the state. In February, 80,900 of the 85,450 people in the civilian labor force held jobs.
The greatest increase in jobs was recorded in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which saw 1,100 jobs added in March. State officials attributed the majority of the uptick to new retail store openings. In addition, 300 jobs were added in the construction sector while the manufacturing sector saw its ranks increase by 100.
Job losses were recorded the educational and health services, government, and leisure and hospitality. The government sector took the hardest hit with 900 jobs lost followed by education and health services, which saw a decline of 200 positions.
The decrease in jobs available in government was attributed to a decline in seasonal hires within the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii system.