Hawaii unemployment continues to rise

Hawaii’s unemployment rate, which was 2.9 percent in November 2007, increased to 4.9 percent in November 2008, up from 4.6 percent in October. This means 13,900 more people were out of work this November than last, according to the U.S. Department.

On Dec. 1, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced that as many as 5,000 unemployed workers in Hawaii could get seven additional weeks of federal unemployment benefits that are now available for those who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits and 13 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.

The total Hawaii work force in November included 660,400 people; of these, 32,700 were without jobs. Hawaii’s jobless rate is still well below the national figure, which rose to 6.7 percent in November, up from 6.5 percent in October, as the U.S. economy shed 250,000 jobs from October to November, according to the ADP National Employment Report, which found that construction lost 44,000 jobs, manufacturing 118,000 jobs and services 92,000 positions during October.

Nationally, new filings for unemployment insurance claims dropped sharply in late December -- perhaps because governmentr offices were closed -- but continuing unemployment claims peaked at a 26-year high. During the week ending Dec. 24, the number of workers continuing to draw jobless benefits reached 4.5 million, the highest number since 1982.

Manufacturing has lost jobs in the U.S. for 27 straight months and the construction sector has sacked 521,000 workers since August 2006, according to the payroll company’s employment study. Tight credit, the down housing market, constrained consumer spending and troubles on Wall Street and with banks have prompted layoffs from big banks and other employers in recent weeks.

During November, the number of “mass layoffs” in Hawaii – layoffs by one employer resulting in 50 or more unemployment insurance claims – more than doubled from a year ago. There were such layoffs, which resulted in the loss of 641 jobs for at least 31 days, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In November 2007, there were five mass layoff events that resulted in the loss of 390 jobs.

Nationally, there were 2,328 mass layoffs in November that resulted in the separation of 224,079 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing industry accounted for 39 percent of initial claims.