County jobless rate steady at 3.1% for June
Total nonfarm jobs have expanded over same time last year
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The Maui News
Molokai's unemployment rate of 7.4 percent in June was the highest it's been all year, though it was a decrease from the 8 percent rate it was at around the same time last year, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday.
Lanai's jobless rate was also down from a year ago -- 1 percent in June as compared with 2.9 percent in June 2018. Meanwhile, Maui island's jobless rate was slightly up -- 3.1 percent in June as compared with 2.8 percent in June 2018. Maui County as a whole reported roughly the same unemployment rates -- 3.1 percent in June as compared with 3 percent in June 2018.
Prior to June, Molokai's highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in March; its lowest was 3.8 percent in January. The island typically has the highest rates in the state. June was also the highest month so far for Maui island, which has hovered just below 3 percent all year. Lanai's peak unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in March.
However, the numbers were not adjusted for seasonal occurrences, such as summer or holiday hiring, making month-over-month comparisons less significant.
Overall, Hawaii's unemployment rates were at 3.2 percent in June, as compared with 3 percent in June 2018. The current rates are still lower than the U.S. jobless rate of 3.8 percent that was recorded in June.
Under the seasonally adjusted numbers, Hawaii's jobless rate was at 2.8 percent in June, while the U.S. Rate was at 3.7 percent. (Seasonally adjusted numbers were not available for the counties.)
Statewide, the department reported that 645,550 people were employed and 18,650 people were unemployed in June.
Nonagricultural jobs in Hawaii increased by 300 in June over May. Among the major industries, there were job gains in professional and business services (plus 400), construction (plus 200), and in trade, transportation and utilities (plus 100). Employment in manufacturing, information and other services remained unchanged. Government jobs went up by 200.
Job losses occurred in financial activities (minus 100) and education and health services (minus 600). Most of the job losses within education and health services came from subsectors of health services, the department said.
Total nonfarm jobs have expanded by 1,200, or 0.2 percent, as compared to a year ago.