Maui Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.8% in April

Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for Maui dropped to 4.8% in April 2013 from 5.3% in the previous month, and 6.1% one year ago, according to statistics released today by the Hawaii Department of Labor & Industrial Relations.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April declined to 4.9% from 5.1% in March, and 6.1% one year ago the same month. The last time the unemployment rate was 4.9%% was in October 2008. Statewide, there were 614,000 employed and 31,850 unemployed in April, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 645,850.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5%% in April, compared to 7.6% in March, and 8.1% one year ago in March 2012.

Initial claims increased statewide by 36 or 1.9%, while weeks claims decreased by 2,016 or -14.6% for unemployment benefits compared to one year ago. Between March and April 2013, initial claims rose by 10.9% and weeks claims dropped by 0.3%.