The state's jobless rate rose slightly to 4.9 percent in November as companies continued to slash their work forces in the face of an economic recession.

“;It is important for all of us to work collaboratively to get our work force in every industry back on the job,”; said Darwin Ching, director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while pledging to help Gov. Linda Lingle expedite $1.8 billion in capital improvement projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The 0.3 percentage-point increase over October's revised seasonally adjusted rate of 4.6 percent brought the number of unemployed to 32,650, up from 30,400 the previous month and 18,850 in November 2007, when the rate was 2.9 percent.

By comparison, the national unemployment rate last month was 6.7 percent.

Hawaii's labor force totaled 660,400 in the month with 627,750 employed, down from 634,900 the previous month and 628,250 a year earlier.

In another measure of employment, seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs grew by 1,200 from 620,300 in October to 621,500. There were job losses in nearly every industry in the private sector, with the greatest loss—700 jobs—in leisure and hospitality, followed by 300 in construction and trade, transportation and utilities.

Educational and health lost 200 jobs, while another 100 jobs were noted in other services. The government sector recorded the largest job gain at 3,900 with the hiring of poll workers and officials during the general election.

Over the year, the seasonally adjusted job count fell by 2,200 jobs, most of which were in the private sector.

By island, Molokai posted the highest jobless rate at 12.9 percent, up slightly from 12.7 percent the month before and 7.1 percent in November 2007. The Big Island's rate rose to 7 percent, up from 6.4 percent in October and 3.7 percent the year earlier. Meanwhile, Kauai rose to 6.5 percent from 5.5 percent in the preceding month and 2.9 percent last year, while Maui rose 5.8 percent from 5.1 percent and 3.3 percent respectively.

Honolulu's unemployment rose to 4.4 percent in November from 3.8 percent in October and 2.9 percent a year ago. Lanai remained unchanged from the preceding month at 4.5 percent, though was up from 2.7 percent a year earlier.

All the island figures are non-seasonally adjusted.