Maui Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 4.7% in May

While there was a drop in construction for the month, the sector reported one of the most significant gains in year over year figures released by the DLIR. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May dropped to 4.7% from 4.9% the month before, according to data released by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

That’s nearly 3 percentage points better than the national rate of 7.6%.

In Maui County, the (non seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate for May was unchanged at 4.8%.  This included an unchanged rate of 4.7% on Maui Island; and slightly improved rates of 8.3% on Molokai, and 1.9% on Lanai.

Statewide, there were more than 615,000 employed, and an estimated 30,600 unemployed individuals, according to the DLIR.

In a separate measure of employment, the DLIR reports that total seasonally adjusted non-agricultural jobs declined by 2,000 across the state over the previous month.

There was also a drop in government jobs, but authorities attributed the decline to seasonal staffing patterns at the Department of Education.  Increases were reported in leisure & hospitality, health services, and professional services.

While there was a drop in construction for the month, the sector reported one of the most significant gains in year over year figures released by the DLIR.