Hawaii County unemployment rate up in March

KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii County’s unemployment rate edged up slightly during March.

During March, 3,600 of the island’s 88,350-person labor force was without work increasing the island’s unemployment rate to 3.9 percent from 3.8 percent in February. However, unemployment on the Big Island is down from 4.7 percent in March of 2015 and 10.1 percent in March of 2009.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.1 percent in March, according to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. A year ago, 3.9 percent of the state’s labor force was unemployed.

Around the state, Honolulu City and County saw its unemployment rate increase from 2.9 percent in February to 3 percent in March while Maui County’s unemployment rate ticked up to 3.4 percent from 3.3 percent the month prior. Kauai was the lone county in the state to record a decrease in unemployment, from 3.6 percent in February to 3.5 percent in March.

Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5 percent, up from 4.9 percent during February. Some eight million people were unemployed during the month. Those numbers have seen little change since August, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Across the state of Hawaii, 21,550 people were unemployed in March, up from 21,200 in February. A year ago, 26,200 people were without employment statewide, according to the state.

The greatest job gains were reported in construction, professional business services and educational and health services, which saw job numbers increase by 1,300, 1,300 and 1,200, respectively. Increases were also reported in leisure and hospitality (400), other services (300), and financial activities (200).

Job losses were recorded in manufacturing and the trade, transportation and utilities sectors, both of which saw 300 jobs cut.