State jobless rate hits 4.2%
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
February's jobless rate ticked up to 4.2 percent statewide from 3.9 percent in January on fewer government jobs.
Last month's unemployment rate, which was up from 3.8 percent in February 2003, also was affected by the loss of 200 construction jobs triggered by a concrete strike, according to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Though Hawai'i's jobless rate remained below the national average of 5.6 percent, February marked the first time since June of last year that the number of jobs actually dropped on a seasonally adjusted basis. The number of jobs statewide fell by 2,400 from January of this year, but remained up by 8,900 compared with February of 2003.
Labor officials attributed the decline to normal fluctuations in state government and education jobs.
"We expect the state economy to continue to improve, following the trend that started over a year ago," said Nelson Befitel, director of the state labor department. "We are seeing an increase in business confidence in the private sector, which will translate to more jobs during the upcoming months."
The seasonal adjustment eliminates the influence of holidays, the opening and closing of schools, weather and other recurring seasonal events. The adjustment makes it possible to more meaningfully compare data from month to month, the Labor Department said.
On a non-seasonally-adjusted basis, Honolulu's jobless rate rose to 3.6 percent, compared with 3.2 percent a year ago.
On the Big Island, January's jobless rate was 5.3 percent, versus 5 percent the year before.
Maui County, which includes Lana'i and Moloka'i, recorded a jobless rate of 3.7 percent, which was level with February 2003.
Kaua'i's rate rose to 4.7 percent from 4.4 percent in the year-ago period. Moloka'i's rate was 10.1 percent compared with 7.2 percent a year ago.
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
