Growing Hawaii
economy creates
9,900 more jobsThe state unemployment rate
rises to 4.2% from 3.9%
a year ago as the number
of people working increases
The continuing strength of Hawaii's economic growth created 9,900 more jobs in October than there were a year ago, and while the unemployment rate was up year-over-year, that was explained by a growth in the work force.
Compared to October 2002, Hawaii last month showed the fourth-largest growth in employment in the nation at 1.7 percent, after Nevada at 3.3 percent, and Georgia and Idaho, both at 1.8 percent. Statistics from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show that October employment was up from last year in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Hawaii unemployment in October grew to 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent in October 2002, according to state statistics, but the work force grew by 16,550 to 608,400 from a year-earlier 581,850.
The growth in the number of jobless people -- those who told state survey-takers that they were looking for work but could not find it -- was much less, an increase of 2,150.
Year-over-year, Hawaii private-sector jobs grew by 8,500 jobs with work opportunities in the leisure and hospitality industries up by 3,100 jobs, or 3.2 percent, from October 2002, according to the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations.
"This job growth is reassuring, especially in the light of the substantial tourism jobs that Hawaii lost due to the aftermath of 9/11 and a depressed economy," said Nelson Befitel, state labor director, in the monthly employment report.
Year-over-year job growth in education and health services was 1,600 jobs, or 2.5 percent.
"Construction and real estate continue to provide a major boost to the state economy," Befitel said. "This is a good sign when you consider that the billion-dollar military housing projects have yet to break ground," he said.
Hawaii's 4.2 percent jobless rate was well below the national average of 6 percent. The state and national figures are seasonally adjusted, which eliminates the effects of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools and other seasonal events.
The state does not seasonally adjust the numbers for each county.
Molokai had the highest October jobless rate on the non-seasonally adjusted basis, 12.9 percent, a three-point increase from 9.9 percent in October 2002. The Big Island was next at 5.9 percent, up from 5.1 percent, followed by Kauai at 4.5 percent, down from 4.6 percent; Maui was at 4.5 percent, up from 3.9 percent; and Oahu was at 3.9 percent, up from 3.5 percent.
