Hawai‘i County Sees 2.3 Percent Unemployment in January

File photo.

Hawai‘i County’s unemployment rate grew slightly in January 2018 to 2.3 percent, according to a report released by the Hawai‘i State Dept. of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR). The seasonally adjusted rated for Hawai‘i Island in Decemberwas 2.1 percent .

Statewide, the unemployment rate for the month of January 2018 was reported at 2.1 percent. That number remained the same as the benchmark-revised rate for December 2017. Both numbers are seasonally adjusted.

DLIR reported that statewide, 668,700 were employed and 14,400 were unemployed in January, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 683,700. Nationally, the equivalent unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in January.

Initial unemployment benefits claims fell by 1.4 percent and weeks claims fell by 2.4 percent compared with one year ago. Over-the-month initial claims and weeks claims increased by 18.3 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, in January 2018.

Graphic courtesy of DLIR.

The measure of seasonally adjusted rate figures is in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for Hawai‘i was also 2.1 percent in January, compared with a revised rate of 1.8 percent in December.

In another measure of employment, the DLIR reported that nonagricultural jobs increased by 1,900 over-the-month. Among the major sectors, job gains occurred in Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (+1,100), Professional & Business Services (+1,000), Leisure & Hospitality (+500), Other Services (+300) and Financial Activities (+100). Within the Trade, Transportation, & Utilities series, most of the rise is attributed to a smaller release of seasonal retail workers, following less seasonal hiring in the industry late last year. Jobs losses were experienced in Construction (-100), Manufacturing (-100), Information (-100) and Educational & Health Services (-300). Government employment declined by 500 jobs, with most of the drop in the University of Hawai‘i System. In comparison with one year ago, total nonfarm jobs have expanded by 6,600, or 1.0 percent.