Unemployment up in January

Hawaii Island’s unemployment rate increased during the month of January, recently released state labor statistics show.

About 3.5% were without work during the first month of 2020, according to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. In December, unemployment was at 2.8%. In January 2019, unemployment was 3.6%.

Statewide, unemployment held steady at 2.7% during January.

Around the state, Maui County’s rate increased from 2.2% in December to 2.8% in January while the City and County of Honolulu saw its unemployment rate rise from 2.1% to 2.7%. Kauai’s jobless increased from 2.4% to 3.0% during that time period.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was 3.6% during in January, up from 3.5% in December, but down from January 2019 when 4.0% of workers were unemployed.

In Hawaii, job increases were recorded in leisure and hospitality (400), education and health services (200), trade, transportation and utilities (100), and other services (100). Job contraction was recorded in professional and business services (100), information (200), financial activities (400) and construction (500). Government employment increased by 100 jobs.