The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations yesterday said that Hawaii's jobless rate was 5.5 percent in October, a 0.1 percentage point drop from September's 5.6 percent unemployment rate. The September rate was down 0.9 percentage points from August's 6.5 percent jobless level.

The national unemployment rate for October was 4.9 percent, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from September's 4.9 percent.

On a county-by-county basis, unemployment rates generally improved.

Oahu's jobless rate last month was 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent in September while Maui County, which includes Molokai and Lanai, saw its jobless level drop to 6.4 percent in October from September's 6.5 percent.

The Big Island rate was flat at 8.3 percent while Kauai's level rose to 10.2 percent from September's 9.7 percent.

According to the state, about 32,400 people were out of a job in October, a decrease of 100 from September. Total employment increased by 6,400 jobs to 557,200 last month from the prior month.

The nonagricultural job count rose to 523,200 in October, a net gain of 8,800 jobs from September.

The state said that seasonal hirings by the public and private school systems helped fuel the increase. The public education and social services sector added 8,400 jobs last month while the private schools and their social services added 600 workers to their payrolls.

The hotel industry added 200 jobs last month, largely on the island of Maui where the Sheraton Maui Resort was preparing for its reopening this month after a two-year, $150 million renovation.

Meanwhile, local wholesalers, gearing up for the busy holiday season, also added 200 jobs.