KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly during February.
KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly during February.
During the second month of 2017, 2,950 of the island’s 91,000-person labor force was without work decreasing the island’s unemployment rate to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent in January. The rate is also down from 3.8 percent in February 2016 and 9.6 percent in February 2011.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 2.8 percent in February, according to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. A year ago, 3.1 percent of the state’s labor force was unemployed.
Around the state, Honolulu City and County saw its unemployment rate decrease from 2.8 percent in January to 2.5 percent in February while Kauai saw its rate decrease from 3.1 percent to 2.9 percent.
Overall, Maui County’s unemployment rate dropped from 3.3 percent to 3 percent, however, unemployment ticked up more than 1 percent from 3.3 percent to 4.9 percent between January and February on Lanai Island. Molokai also saw its rate increase by one-tenth percent. Maui Island’s dropped from 3.3 percent to 2.9 percent.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, down a touch from 4.8 in January.
New federal data released after the state’s data put the federal unemployment rate at 4.5 percent in March. That equates to about 7.2 million people out of work during March.
Across the state of Hawaii, based on the most recent state data released, 19,350 people were unemployed in February, down from 19,750 in January. A year ago, 21,050 people were without employment statewide, according to the state.
The greatest job gains were reported in educational and health services (400), trade, transportation and utilities (300), and leisure and hospitality (200). Job losses were recorded in financial activities (400), information (300), and business services and construction, which each saw ranks decrease by 200 positions in February.