DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
LINDA CHU TAKAYAMA
DIRECTOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2016
HAWAII’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT 3.2 PERCENT IN MAY
Non-Agricultural Jobs up 13,700 over-the-year
HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 3.2 percent, the same as in April. Statewide, 665,750 were employed and 22,300 unemployed in May for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 688,100. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in May, down from 5.0 percent in April.
Both initial claims and weeks claims decreased by 85 or – 6.4 percent and 1,254 or -15.3 percent respectively for unemployment benefits compared to one year ago. Over-the-month initial claims dropped by – 6.0 percent while weeks claims increased by 2.6 percent from April 2016.
The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawaii and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State was 3.1 percent in May, the same as in April.
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey)
In another measure of employment, total non-agricultural jobs increased by 1,100 over-the-month. Within major industry sectors, there were job gains in Construction (+700), Financial Activities (+300), and Manufacturing (+200). Employment in Other Services remained unchanged. Job losses occurred in Educational & Health Services (-200), Professional & Business Services (-300), Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-400), and Leisure & Hospitality
(-1,100). The decrease in Leisure & Hospitality was concentrated in Food Services & Drinking Places. Government employment went up by 2,000 jobs, largely as a result of seasonal fluctuation at the Department of Education. In comparison with one year ago, total nonfarm jobs have risen by 13,700, or 2.2 percent.
