Unemployment claims in Hawaii drop 25 percent

Initial unemployment claims in Hawaii fell by 25 percent in mid-January compared to a year ago, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. There were 1,785 initial jobless claims filed during the week ending Jan. 21, a drop of 25.4 percent from the 2,392 claims filed during the same week in 2011.

Maui and Kauai counties saw the largest percentage decreases in jobless claims during the week of Jan. 15-21, while the Big Island saw a slight increase. There were 127 unemployment claims filed on Kauai during that week, 46.2 percent fewer than the 236 claims filed during the same week last year. Maui County had 221 initial filings, 43.9 percent fewer than the 394 claims last year, while Oahu had 1,040 jobless claims, 23.4 percent fewer than the 1,357 last year. On the Big Island, the 343 initial unemployment claims were 4.9 percent more than the 327 filed last year.

U.S. jobless claims at 352,000, fewest since 2008

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits in the U.S. plummeted last week to 352,000, the fewest since April 2008. The decline added to evidence that the job market is strengthening.

Applications fell 50,000, the biggest drop in the seasonally adjusted figure in more than six years, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average, which compensates for fluctuations, dropped to 379,000. That's the second-lowest such figure in more than three years.