Unemployment declined on the Big Island during December for the fourth straight month, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported earlier this week.
Unemployment declined on the Big Island during December for the fourth straight month, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported earlier this week.
About 3.7 percent of the island’s 87,200 person labor force reported being without work during December, according to state data. That’s down from 4.1 percent in November and 4.7 percent in December 2014.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in December, down from 3.3 percent in November, according to the department, which also noted that the last time the state unemployment rate was at 3.2 percent was January 2008. A year ago, 4 percent of the statewide labor force was unemployed.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hawaii was among the 25 states that saw unemployment rate decreases in December; 14 states had increases and
11 states and the District of Columbia saw no change in the rate.
Honolulu City and County’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in December; Maui County’s rate decreased to 3.1 percent; and Kauai County’s rate was 3.5 percent, according to the department.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5 percent, unchanged for the third month in a row. Some 7.9 million people were unemployed during December.
Across the state of Hawaii, 22,150 people were unemployed in December, up from 22,100 the month before. A year ago, 27,100 people were without employment statewide, according to the state.
Hawaii Island’s labor force in December comprised 87,200 people, of whom 83,950 held jobs, according to preliminary statistics kept by the state.
The greatest job gains were recorded in leisure and hospitality, which saw 900 positions added; professional and business services, which recorded 800 new jobs; educational and health service, which saw 500 positions added; and construction, which added 500 jobs. Job losses were recorded in trade transportation and utilities, where 200 jobs were lost.