Jobless rate flat
Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in January, the same figure as one year ago, according to data released yesterday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
In December, the unemployment rate stood at 4.4 percent. The January figure is still well below the national unemployment rate of 5.6 percent.
Hawaii's employed labor force reached an all-time high of 603,200 in January, up 3 percent from 585,200 in January 2003. Some 24,700 people were unemployed last month, up 5.6 percent from 23,400 a year earlier.
Job increases last month were mostly from the state Department of Education. Job counts in most other major industries remained fairly stable during the month, the state said.
The number of jobs in January rose by 11,700, or 2 percent, from June, with the biggest gains in the private sector. Lesiure and hospitality sectors grew by 2,300 jobs; education and health increased by 1,800 jobs; and trade, transportation and utilities went up by 1,600 jobs.
Seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers take into account regular fluctuations throughout the year such as teachers and students being out of school. By factoring in those numbers, the line of unemployment is flatter and will not show dramatic shifts seen in numbers that have not been seasonally adjusted.
