Hawai'i jobless rate falls to 4.3 percent
By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer
The state unemployment rate dropped slightly for the fourth consecutive month in March, assisted by a seasonal increase in workers at the University of Hawai'i, a flux of restaurant rehires and improved weather conditions that added construction jobs.
March's unemployment rate of 4.3 percent marked a drop of 0.4 percentage point from the 4.7 percent rate in February and suggested that the state's recovery from rising unemployment numbers since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is slowly strengthening.
Hawai'i's rate was better than the national March unemployment rate of 6.1 percent.
Despite the turnaround, the numbers released yesterday by Hawai'i's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations remained higher than the 3.9 percent statewide unemployment rate the same month last year.
Job growth was seen in public education, where 1,000 jobs were added largely because of a rise in casual workers in the University of Hawai'i system. Casual workers are defined as those hired temporarily — often for just a few days.
The miscellaneous-services sector, which might include caterers, nannies or maids, expanded by 900 jobs, and eating and drinking establishments added 600 jobs. The construction industry added 500 jobs. Though airlines and ground transportation firms continue to struggle in the aftermath of Sept. 11, air transportation added 200 jobs, a sign that the tourism industry is regaining its footing.
The latest rate reflects a statewide labor force comprised of 574,500 employed and 25,900 unemployed people.
March jobless rates for other islands were 5.4 percent for the Big Island; 5.7 percent for Kaua'i; 4.5 percent for Maui; 6.1 percent for Moloka'i; and 3.3 percent for Lana'i.
