Maui island jobless rate lowest in state

Valley Isle posted a 1.9 percent jobless tally for August

Maui island’s jobless rate of 1.9 percent for August was the lowest of all major Hawaiian Islands, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The next lowest rate was for Honolulu, 2.1 percent, which was the same percentage as Maui County’s. Kauai’s unemployment rate was 2.3 percent and Hawaii island’s, 2.7 percent, the report released Friday said.

An updated state economic forecast released Friday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization said that the operational takeover of Maui County public hospitals by Kaiser subsidiary Maui Health System “continues to impact the year-over-year growth rates.” The report said that the “greatest contributor to statewide job growth has been the health-care sector.”

Within Maui County, Lanai’s jobless rate for the month was 2.1 percent, down from 2.8 percent in August 2017, and Molokai’s rate was 5.8 percent, down from 6.7 percent.

Maui island’s jobless rate declined 0.2 percentage point from 2.1 percent in August 2017.

County jobless data are not adjusted for seasonal factors, such as summer or holiday hiring.

The seasonally adjusted Hawaii jobless rate for August was 2.1 percent, the same as July and August 2017. The national unemployment rate for August was 3.9 percent.

Initial jobless claims in August fell 12.1 percent from a year earlier and 10.2 percent from July.

Nonagricultural jobs grew by 2,400 in August, month over month. The largest gains were in leisure and hospitality, up 700 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, up 100; and financial activities, up 100, The bulk of the leisure and hospitality increase came in the food services and drinking places category.

Losses were reported in professional and business services and education and health services, both down 300 jobs.

Government jobs rose by 2,200 jobs in August, primarily due to the hiring of primary election workers, the report said.