Hawaii County’s unemployment rate fell slightly between April and May, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reports.
The island’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent in May, down from 4.9 percent in April and March, and 5.3 percent in February, according to the department and data from the Hawaii Workforce Infonet. In May 2014, 5.6 percent of the island’s labor force was without a job.
The Big Island, however, continues to hold the highest unemployment rate among Hawaii’s four counties. Honolulu City and County’s unemployment rate in May was 3.7 percent, up from 3.6 percent in April; Maui County’s rate was 3.9 percent, down from 4.1 percent in April; and Kauai County’s rate was 4.3 percent, down from 4.7 percent, according to the department.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in May, unchanged from the month prior, according to the department. Some 4.5 percent of the statewide labor force was unemployed in March 2014.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, up slightly from 5.4 percent in April, but down from 6.3 percent in May 2014. The number of unemployed people nationwide was 8.7 million in May, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Across the state of Hawaii, 27,400 people were unemployed in May, down from 27,600 people in April. A year ago, 29,950 people were without employment statewide, according to the department.
Hawaii Island’s labor force in March comprised 87,050 of whom 82,900 held jobs, according to preliminary statistics kept by the state. In April, 81,850 of the 86,100 people in the civilian labor force held jobs.
The greatest increase in jobs was recorded in the professional and business services sector, which saw 800 jobs added, followed by trade, transportation and utilities and other services sectors, which each saw 700 jobs added in May. The construction and financial sectors followed with 600 and 300 jobs added, respectively.
Job losses were recorded in leisure and hospitality and manufacturing, both of which contracted by 200 jobs each. Government jobs decreased by 1,100 over-the-month, primarily a result of seasonal variation at the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii system, the state said.