The Big Island’s unemployment rate decreased slightly during February, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
During the second month of 2021, the island had an estimated 7,500 people without work equating to an unemployment rate of 8.3%, down from 9.6% in January and 9.2% in December, according to data released Thursday. The rate is down substantially from a record high 21.2% in May 2020.
Statewide, 9.2% of Hawaii’s 655,350-person labor force was without work in February, according to the state. That’s up significantly from 2020, when the state reported an unemployment rate of just 2.1%.
Around the state, Honolulu City and County saw its unemployment rate drop from 8.9% in January to 7.6% in February. Kauai’s unemployment rate was down to 12.9% from 14.6% while Maui’s rate dropped slightly from 13.8% to 12.3%.
Nationally, unemployment decreased to 6.2%. A year ago, just 3.5% of the nation’s workforce was without work.
Job gains in Hawaii were reported in leisure and hospitality (1,400), professional and business services (1,300), transportation and utilities (700), and education and health services (200). The majority of the increase in leisure and hospitality was related to accommodations.
Job losses were reported in manufacturing (100), information (200) and construction (300).
Government employment declined by 1,200 jobs, primarily as a result of smaller than seasonally typical hiring at both the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii system, according to the state.