The Economy

Hawaii reports eight mass layoffs in August

Hawaii had eight “mass layoffs” in August, down from nine in July, which resulted in the loss of 872 jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S. Department of Labor announced on Sept. 23. A year ago, in August 2008, there were four mass layoff events that resulted in the loss of 408 jobs.

A mass layoff is when there are 50 or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits from one employer during a five-week period, with at least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days. Nationally, there were 2,690 mass layoffs in August that resulted in the separation of 259,307 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, seasonally adjusted.

Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and removing the effect of regularly recurring seasonal events such as changes in the weather, holidays and the beginning and ending of the school year.

Meanwhile, Hawaii’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in August, up from 7 percent in July and up 3 percentage points from a year ago. The rate has increased from 4.2 percent in August 2008. There were 18,800 more people out of work than there were the previous August, the U.S. Department of Labor said Sept. 18. There were 643,400 people in the work force and 46,050 people without jobs in August.

  • Kauai’s jobless rate more than doubled from 4.4 percent last August to 9.6 percent this year, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said.

  • Molokai had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 15.1 percent, up from 13.7 percent a year ago. The unemployment rate there was down from last month, when it hit 16.3 percent.

  • Maui County’s jobless rate was up from 4.8 percent in August 2008 to 9.3 percent this year. On the Big Island, the rate rose from 6.3 percent to 10.3 percent.

  • Oahu had the state’s lowest rate among the major islands at 6 percent, up from 3.8 percent in August 2008.

Hawaii’s jobless rate is still below the national figure, which rose to a 26-year record 9.7 percent in August, the highest level since 1983, up from 9.4 percent in July. California’s rate was 12.2 percent.