Posted at 10:21 a.m., Wednesday, September 20, 2006
State Aug. jobless rate falls to 2.8%, lowest in nation
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's unemployment rate fell to 2.8 percent in August from 3.0 percent in July, enabling the state to reclaim the distinction of having the lowest jobless rate in the country.Growth in nonfarm payroll jobs was greatest in the government sector, which added 500 positions, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, D.C. The leisure and hospitality industry added 400 jobs, while education and health services picked up 300 positions. The construction sector saw a decline of 100 jobs.
Hawai'i leapfrogged Louisiana to regain the title of lowest unemployment rate in August. Louisiana's jobless rate rose to 3.4 percent in August from 2.9 percent in July.
The total civilian labor force shrank to 650,400 in August from 652,0000 in July. The number of unemployed fell to 18,200 from 19,700 during the same period.
The labor force data and unemployment rate are derived from a telephone survey of households. The nonfarm payroll figures are derived from a separate survey of businesses. All data are adjusted to account for seasonal variations.
