Hawaii's jobless rate remains unchanged in August

Hawaii’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in August at 6.4 percent. The rate held steady for the third consecutive month, and is lower than the 7 percent jobless rate recorded in August 2009, according to seasonally adjusted figures released in late September by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Hawaii had 40,900 people out of work in August out of a labor force of 635,100. The state’s jobless rate is still well below the national rate, which was 9.6 percent in August. The national jobless rate was 9.7 percent a year ago.

Despite the state’s unemployment rate holding steady, Hawaii lost 6,300 jobs in August to end the month with 586,500 nonagricultural jobs. The unemployment rate can hold steady despite an increase in job losses if fewer people are looking for work during a given period of time. A year ago, Hawaii had 586,200 nonagricultural jobs.

Meanwhile, the state’s first-time unemployment claims dropped by 20 percent for the week ending Sept. 15 compared to the same week last year, according to statistics from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Statewide, a total of 1,903 claims were filed during this past week, down from 2,380 claims filed during this same week in 2009.

Maui had the sharpest decrease at 39.1 percent from a year ago with 299 claims. Oahu had a 21 percent decrease with 939 claims, and the Big Island had a 12.6 percent decrease, with 408 claims. On Kauai, unemployment claims increased 16.7 percent with 196 claims this week compared to the same week last year.