Posted on: Friday, June 22, 2001

State's jobless rate drops slightly

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i's unemployment rate dipped slightly in May to 4.3 percent from the previous month's revised rate of 4.7 percent as unemployment rolls shrank last month, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Compared to the same month last year, however, May's 4.3 percent unemployment rate was unchanged.

Despite fewer unemployed, Hawai'i's work force dropped in May to 572,400 people from April's 574,900, mostly because of workers laid off at the end of the school year. Fewer jobs in education, about 900, and a drop of about 300 jobs in the construction industry contributed to the decline. About 200 service-sector jobs, mainly in educational services, were also lost during May.

Only the transportation industry showed noticeable growth, gaining 200 jobs in May.

The national unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in May, down from 4.2 percent in April 2001, but up from 3.9 percent the same month a year ago.

Honolulu saw a drop to 3.7 percent in May 2001, down from 3.8 percent in May 2000. Maui County's rate fell to 4.2 percent, down from 4.5 percent. The Big Island's rate rose to 7.2 percent, up from 7.1 percent. And Kaua'i saw its unemployment rate rise to 6.8 percent in May 2001 from 6 percent in May 2000.

Hawai'i's unemployment rates were not seasonally adjusted. This is the ninth time in 13 months the state's unemployment rate was higher than the national average.