Lowest-in-nation jobless rate strains Hawaii nonprofits

Of the 367 metropolitan areas tracked by the U.S. Department of Labor, in October urban Honolulu’s unemployment rate – not seasonally adjusted – was the second lowest of 367 U.S. metropolitan areas at 1.9 percent. Only Fargo, N. D., had a lower rate of 1.5 percent.

At this writing, HANO’s web site has a list of 27 nonprofit job openings – the most in three years – including six for executive directors. The super-heated job market is creating pressure to raise salaries and maintain benefits in the face of rising costs for everything, particularly medical insurance.

Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's largest health insurer, announced a quarterly loss of more than $7 million and warns of more losses to come. “We did not have a good quarter," said Steve Van Ribbink, HMSA’s CFO, citing premiums that were not keeping pace with the use and cost of health-care services. While HMSA premiums have increased 3 percent in the last year, costs increased 7.1 percent year over year.

Meanwhile, even Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is recruiting for help, including openings for senior officials, for her second administration and has invited qualified applicants to download applications form from http://www.hawaii.gov/gov/applications. Applicants are asked to include a resume and one-paragraph, 50-word narrative about their areas of interest and expertise and to apply by Dec. 15.

According to Lingle, all highly motivated individuals with strong desires to make a positive difference in people’s lives are invited to apply, “regardless of party affiliation.”