Unemployement Rate Drops in August, States’ Lowest Since 2008

Hawai’i’s unemployment rate for August is the lowest its been since 2008.

Hawai’i County’s unemployment rate for August was 4.2 percent, compared to 5.2 percent in 2014.

According to a recent release from the Hawai’i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August was 3.5 percent, down from 3.7 percent in July.

According to the release, the last time the rate was at or below 3.5 percent was in March of 2008, when it was 3.4 percent.

Throughout the state, 649,350 were employed and 23,700 unemployed in August for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 673,050.

Otherwise, in the nation the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in August, down from 5.3 percent in July.

According to the release, both initial claims and weeks claims decreased by 266 or -18.2 percent and 2,220 or -22.9 percent respectively for unemployment benefits compared to one year ago.  Over-the-month, both initial claims and weeks claims also decreased by -8.4 percent and -6.0 percent respectively from July 2015.

The figures above represent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate figures.