Hawai'i jobless rate down
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the first time since September, Hawai'i's unemployment rate dipped below 5 percent last month, to 4.8 percent, according to a state report released yesterday.
The positive sign is the second in a row for Hawai'i's work force, which saw the unemployment rate decrease in December for the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks that triggered mass layoffs largely tied to the state's tourism industry.
It was unclear if the January data might represent another sign of recovery.
Seasonally adjusted figures were unavailable yesterday when the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations released its unemployment report, but the department said "most" of the January job losses were attributed to seasonal factors.
At 4.8 percent, the rate was up from 4.1 percent in January 2000, but it was lower than the 6.3 percent national average, which was up from 4.7 percent in January 2000.
Around the state, however, unemployment on three islands actually dropped in January compared to the same month a year ago. The Big Island's rate fell to 5.8 percent from 6.5 percent; Moloka'i', 5.4 percent from 9.6 percent; and Kaua'i 6.2 percent from 7.5 percent.
Maui's rate rose to 5 percent from 3.6 percent, and Lana'i's rate rose to 4.6 percent from 3.8 percent during the same period.
The state rate represented 28,900 jobless people out of a work force of 578,200.
Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.
