Hawaii leads the nation in the rate of job growth

A continuing challenge for Hawai‘i nonprofits is finding and retaining skilled workers. According to the U.S. Labor Department, current monthly employment figures find Hawaii with the highest percentage job growth in the nation at 0.7 percent. This rate leads Nevada, Utah and North Dakota, which tied for second place at 0.6 percent.

In September alone, Hawaii gained 4,400 jobs and the state's workforce grew to 623,800, an increase of 17,700, or 2.9 percent from the previous earlier. 

Hawaii in September again saw the nation's lowest unemployment rate, 2.5 percent, which was down two-tenths from August. Utah's rate was second at 2.8 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Oct. 20 that 31 states reported unemployment rate decreases during September. The national unemployment rate for the month was steady at 4.6 percent.