Hawai‘i Unemployment Remains at 2.1 Percent in February

File photo.

Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate for February 2018 was 2.1 percent—the same as in January—according to a new report by the Hawai‘i State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR).

The reported rate represents an increase of 2,300 jobs over the month. Statewide, 669,400 were employed and 14,050 unemployed in February for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 683,500. Nationwide the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in February, also the same as in January.

Both initial claims and weeks claims decreased by 11 or 0.9 percent and by 320 or 3.9 percent respectively for unemployment benefits compared to one year ago. Over-the-month both initial claims and weeks claims also declined by 16.1 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, in February 2018.

DLIR graphic.

The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawai‘i are seasonally adjusted in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State of Hawai‘i was 1.9 percent in February, compared to 2.1 percent in January.

Within the major sectors, job gains were reported in the State of Hawai‘i in Professional & Business Services (+1,300), Educational & Health Services (+500), Manufacturing (+100), Leisure & Hospitality (+100) and Other Services (+100). Within the Professional & Business Services, the bulk of the job expansion was spread out over several subsectors of Administrative & Support & Waste Management & Remediation Services. Employment in the Information sector remained stable. Jobs losses occurred in Construction (-100), Financial Activities (-100), and Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-400). Government employment went up by 800 jobs, with most of the rise in the University of Hawai‘i System. Compared with February 2017, total nonfarm jobs have expanded by 8,900, or 1.4 percent