Hawai'i jobless rate 4.5% in June

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the first six months of the year, the state's figures have run an average of 1.5 percentage points below the national figures. Hawai'i's unemployment rate for June 2001 was 4.9 percent.

Last month, the state's labor force included 570,900 employed and 26,900 unemployed.

The picture in June was a combination of seasonal hiring and signs of an improving economy.

State education, primarily through casual workers, added 500 jobs. Hotels, business services and eating and drinking establishments each added 400 more positions. The federal and county governments and private social service agencies each had 300 more positions.

Air transportation firms, manufacturing, wholesale trade, health services, general merchandise stores and the combined finance, insurance and real estate industries each added 200 jobs to their sectors. The military also hired student help and a Maui youth summer program resumed.

At the same time, private education lost 1,000 jobs in a seasonal decrease.

By island, O'ahu had 4 percent unemployment in June; Lanai, 4.1; Maui, 4.2; Kaua'i, 5.4; The Big Island, 7 and Moloka'i, 8.1 percent.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.