#unemployment

Maui County’s labor force increased (0.3%) in March 2025 after declining 19 months after the wildfires.

Nearly a year and a half after the devastating August 2023 wildfires, new survey results from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) highlight persistent housing unaffordability, elevated poverty and unemployment rates, and ongoing economic hardship among fire-impacted households on Maui. Launched in August 2024, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, the Maui Recovery Survey: Housing and Jobs is designed to […]

Maui County’s economic recovery remains slower than other islands, particularly in tourism and employment, suggesting lingering effects from the August 2023 wildfires disaster that disrupted tourism and local businesses, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism the 2025 Statistical and Economic Report, published in this first quarter.

Here in Maui County, the not-seasonally adjusted rate for the county was 3.4% in December, compared to 3.7% in November and 5.6% in December of the previous year.

With the rebuilding of homes underway and the commercial cleanup nearly finished, businesses say the timing is crucial to rebuild and provide jobs for returning residents.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.5% in June 2024, compared to 3.6% the previous month, and 3.0% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

While unloading cans of Spam and packets of saimin at distribution hubs shortly after the fires, Makale’a Ane and other farmers wanted to find ways to get fresher, healthier foods to families.  “After the fires, we kind of pivoted and took the work that we’re doing on the farm and said, let’s feed our people in this way,” said Ane, the climae and resilience director for the Living Pono Project.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.3% in April 2024, compared to 4.9% the previous month, and 2.6% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.9% in March 2024, compared to 5.9% the previous month, and 3.0% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 5.8% in February 2024, compared to 6.2% the previous month, and 2.9% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

Maui still has not totally bounced back from the job losses due to the August fires. A year ago in October, Mauiʻs unemployment was only 3.7%.

A total of 88 transpacific flights were canceled in August, representing 23,083 air seats. The passenger count to Kahului Airport decreased by more than 70% after the wildfires from 7,000 a day to 2,000 a day. The loss from business closures and visitor expenditures is estimated to be $11 million a day on Maui since Aug. 9, 2023.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations today announced the availability of a disaster recovery jobs portal for Maui to help workers and businesses impacted by the wildfires. The portal provides access to all currently available jobs on Maui as maintained by the DLIR. 

Legal assistance for those impacted by the Maui wildfires on specific issues ranging from immigration to insurance claims will be offered by attorneys in private practice and a University of Hawaiʻi Law Clinic program from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 9, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

On Maui, the county rate increased to 3.1% in June, compared to 2.5% in May. Maui Island’s unemployment rate was 3.0% in June, up from 2.5% in May. The outer islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi also saw increased rates of 7.0% and 2.0% respectively. Molokaʻi continues to have the state’s highest unemployment, while Lānaʻi has the lowest rate.

On Maui, the Island and county rates dropped to 2.5% in May, compared to 2.8% in April. The outer islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi also saw lowered rates of 4.2% and 1.5% respectively. Molokaʻi continues to have the state’s highest unemployment, while Lānaʻi has the lowest rate.

Maui’s unemployment rate dipped to 2.8% in April of 2023, down from 3.4% in March. When compared to last year, Maui Island and Maui County’s unemployment rates were down from 3.2%. 

Maui County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 3.2%, down from 3.1% in January, and down from 3.5% at the same time last year.

Maui County’s unemployment rate in June of 2022 was 4.9%, up from 4.2% in May, and down from 8.3% at the same time last year.

Maui Island had a 4.2% non-seasonally adjusted rate in April. Molokaʻi’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 17.4% and Lānaʻi was 3.2% last month.