Hawaii Unemployment Rate Falls To 10-Year Low Of 2.6 Percent

The state is essentially at full employment, says the director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

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(AP) — Hawaii’s jobless rate fell to a 10-year low of 2.6 percent last month.The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Thursday the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point from July.The rate was last this low in April 2007.

Honolulu Downtown view Hawaiian Electric Post office. 1 may 2017
The unemployment rate hasn’t been this low in 10 years. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017

Department Director Linda Chu Takayama says a 2.6 percent jobless rate means Hawaii is essentially at full employment.

That’s when nearly everyone who wants a job has one. The jobless rate under full employment reflects mostly a temporary churn of job losses and gains.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in August.

The state says the construction industry and temporary worker sector added jobs. Jobs declined in transportation, utilities and retail.

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