Hawaii jobless rate
falls to 3.8%
Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.8 percent in March, down from 4.2 percent in February and 4.1 percent in March 2003, state labor officials said yesterday.
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said 17,500 island residents have gained employment since March of last year, while Hawaii's unemployed population decreased by 900 to 24,200 during the same time period.
"These numbers reflect a business sector that is confident, vibrant and growing," department Director Nelson Befitel said. "Our work force continues to grow, while the unemployment rate remains consistently low, even during the recent concrete workers strike."
Except for Molokai, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates of all islands fell in March, compared with the same month last year.
Honolulu went from 3.4 percent to 3.3 percent, the Big Island from 5.8 percent to 4.7 percent, Kauai from 4.9 percent to 3.8 percent, Maui from 3.8 percent to 3.4 percent and Lanai from 1.8 percent to 0.7. But Molokai rose to 9.5 percent from 9.1 percent.
The natural resources, mining and construction industry declined by 800 jobs last month, but there were no official numbers on how many employees were laid off because of the strikes at Ameron Hawaii and Hawaiian Cement, which began in February. Hawaiian Cement workers went back to work March 22, while Ameron Hawaii workers stayed out until April 5.
During March, the trade, transportation and utilities industries added 500 jobs, education and health services rose 300 and government went up 600, while leisure and hospitality declined by 200.
The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in March, up from 5.6 percent in February but down from 5.8 percent in March of last year.