STATE UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 25 YEAR HIGH

Maui’s unemployment rate rose to 7.3 percent in January—that’s more than a percentage point higher than the seasonally adjusted figure for the state—and does not account for the recent layoffs at Maui Land & Pineapple Co. that left 100 people unemployed.

Statewide, unemployment increased 1 percent to 6.1 over the month before. That’s that highest it’s been in 25 years, but still below the national average of 7.6 percent. The figures released by the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations included drops in the construction, financial, and professional business sectors. There was no change for Leisure and Hospitality, where the reopening of a renovated Waikiki hotel and rehiring many of its former employees helped Accommodation remain stable even with the announcement of lower visitor arrivals and occupancy rates.

Over the last 12 months, Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has been in the range of 1.5 to 2.1 percentage points lower than the national unemployment rate.   In January, Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted labor force totaled 648,700 and was composed of 609,150 employed and 39,550 unemployed.