State Jobless Rate Falls, Big Isle Highest

Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% in July, the lowest it’s been since August 2008, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported.

The statewide rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from the June rate of 4.6%, and down from 5.9% a year ago.

Hawaii County’s July rate was 6.8%, highest among counties in the state, but it is also down from 7.4% in July 2012.

State and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. County rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.4% in July, down from 7.6% in June.