Department of Labor Releases November Unemployment Rates

Hawaiʻiʻs seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November 2018 was 2.4 percent, compared to 2.3 percent in the previous month, according to the Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR). Statewide, 668,800 residents were employed and 16,350 residents were unemployed in November for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 685,150. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in November, the same as in October.

Both Initial claims and weeks claims decreased by 4.2 percent and 7.8 percent respectively for unemployment benefits compared to the previous year. Over-the-month initial claims dropped by 24.5 percent and weeks claims increased by 4.6 percent in November 2018.

The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawaiʻi and the US are seasonally adjusted in accordance with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the state was 2.6 percent in November 2018, compared to 2.5 percent in the previous month.

In another measure of employment, total non-farm jobs rose by 900 over the month.  Among the major industries, job gains occurred in Professional & Business Services, Information, Financial Activities, and Other Services.  Employment in the Manufacturing and Education & Health Services industries remained the same as the previous month. The Leisure & Hospitality, Trade, Transportation, & Utilities, and Construction industries all saw job losses during the month.  In comparison with November 2017, total nonagricultural jobs have expanded by 2 percent.

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