Maui Unemployment Rate Down to 4.9%

Pacific Media Group job fair, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Maui’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 4.9%, down from the 5.5% rate reported at the same time last year, according to information released by the Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

On Lānaʻi, the agency reported a jobless rate of 4.4%, up from 1.4% in November 2012. Molokaʻi’s rate was 7.5%, down significantly from the 14.4% reported at the same time last year, but still the highest in the state.

Statewide, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reports a non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.6%, down from the 5.2% reported in November of 2012.

The department notes significant job expansion in the Leisure and Hospitality sector, which was up by 1,700 jobs from the month before.

According to department reports, there were 1,400 more jobs in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector; 400 more jobs in Education and Health Services; and 300 more jobs in Manufacturing.

Job decreases of 100 each were reported in the Financial Activities sector, and the Professional and Business Services area.