Hawai‘i unemployment rate remains at 2.9% in September

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September remained at 2.9% in Hawai‘i for the fourth consecutive month.

The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism reports 651,100 people were employed last month, with 19,300 were unemployed, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 670,400 statewide.

The unemployment rate nationwide was 4.1% in September, down from 4.2% in August.

Nonfarm jobs increased by 9,000, or 1.4%, from September 2023; however, compared with March 2020, the last month prior to COVID-19 pandemic effects, nonfarm jobs were down 16,600, or 2.5%.

Total nonagricultural jobs increased by 800 from August to September.

Job gains were experienced in:

• Leisure and Hospitality: +500.
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities: +300.

Employment in manufacturing, information and professional and business services remained unchanged from August to September.

Job losses were seen in:

• Construction: -100.
• Private education and health services: -200.
• Other services: -200.
• Financial activities: -300.

Government employment went up 800 jobs from August to Septmber, mostly because of an above-average seasonal recall of workers in the Hawai‘i Department of Education.

The figures for the state and nation are seasonally adjusted in accordance with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflecting hiring and layoff patterns accompanying regular events such as the winter holiday and summer vacation seasons.

The not-seasonally adjusted rate for the state was 3.2% in September, the same as in August.