Jobless rate in state drops to 3.8 percent
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i's unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent in March as job gains in the trade, transportation and utilities sectors helped offset losses in construction because of a now settled concrete workers strike.
The March jobless rate was down from 4.2 percent in February and 4.1 percent in March 2003. The decline came despite separate strikes against Hawaiian Cement and Ameron Hawaii — Hawai'i's major concrete producers, according to figures released yesterday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. For reporting purposes those jobs are lumped into a broader group called natural resources, mining and construction, which posted a drop of 800 jobs last month.
At the same time, the trade, transportation and utilities sectors added 500 jobs, education and health services rose by 300 jobs and government added 600 employees. The leisure and hospitality sector has lost 200 jobs since February.
The total number of employed in March reached 603,700 versus 586,200 in March 2003. About 24,200 people were reported as unemployed last month, compared with 25,100 who were jobless in the state in March 2003.
Helping the state' economy are a robust real-estate market and a stable tourism sector.
"Our workforce continues to grow, while the unemployment rate remains consistently low even during the recent concrete workers' strike," said Nelson Befitel, director of the state Labor Department.
On a nonseasonally-adjusted basis, Honolulu's jobless rate dipped to 3.3 percent, compared with 3.4 percent a year ago. On the Big Island, March's jobless rate was 4.7 percent, versus 5.8 percent the year before.
Maui County, which includes Lana'i and Moloka'i, recorded a jobless rate of 3.6 percent, which was down from 3.9 percent in March 2003.
Kaua'i's rate fell to 3.8 percent from 4.9 percent in the year-ago period. Moloka'i's rate was 9.5 percent compared with 9.1 percent a year ago.
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.
