LISTEN TO THE RAIN
A SPECIAL REPORT
Weather likely reason for spike in jobless claims
UNEMPLOYMENT
Hawaii might have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, at 2.5 percent, but for six weeks starting in mid-February, state residents lost money and work time as heavy rain and flooding disrupted lives and businesses.
The unusual stretch of inclement weather likely was behind a 25.3 percent jump in initial jobless claims during that period, state economists say. Before the onset of the rains, jobless claims were down 18.1 percent during the previous six weeks.
"You have to go with the obvious that it's most likely due to the weather," said Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. "The question is what will it look like over the next six weeks, and -- if it doesn't go down -- whether we're seeing a slowing of job growth. But I don't think we have any evidence of that yet."
While the bad weather could have lingering affects on tourism and agriculture, the construction industry appears to be back in full swing again after experiencing some lost days of work.
Ronald Taketa, financial secretary and business representative of Hawaii Carpenters Union Local 745, said the most significant effect on his union's 6,800 members was that a lot of workers did not take home full 40-hour paychecks during the last two months.
Gerald Yuh, business manager for the 3,200 members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1186, said that from Feb. 22 through March 25, there was a 19 percent average reduction in work hours for the union's seven main contractors due to weather.
Imua Landscaping Co. Inc. foreman Jared Salakielu said work for some of his crew was cut to one or two days over a two-week period.
"Work just got backed up those past two weeks, but it will all come back," he said.