Hawaii Unemployment Rate Holds at 6 Percent; National Unemployment Rate at 9.2 percent

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Graphic by Emily Metcalf

HONOLULU– The Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June remained unchanged at 6.0 percent. There were 595,450 employed and 38,150 unemployed in June, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 633,650. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.2 percent in June from 9.1 percent in May.

The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawaii and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State increased to 6.8 percent in June from 5.9 percent in May.

Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey)

In another measure of employment, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs decreased by 2,000 jobs or -0.3 percent to 588,500 jobs from May to June. Among major industry groups, small over-the-month job gains were experienced in Financial Activities (+300) and Construction (+200). Employment remained stable in the Other Services sector.

The largest job contraction in June over May occurred in Government, which declined by 800 jobs. Within the private sector, major industry groups that decreased over-the-month included Leisure & Hospitality (- 600), Education & Health Services (-500), Professional & Business Services (-500), and Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-100). In comparison with June 2010, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs have expanded by 4,000, or +0.7 percent, with the largest increases occurring in Education & Health Services (+2,700) and Professional & Business Services (+2,200).

Financial Activities (+300) Within the major industry of Financial Activities, most of the June over May job gains took place in Finance & Insurance, with a much smaller increase in Real Estate and Rental and Leasing.

Construction (+200) For the fourth consecutive month, Construction employment expanded over-the-month. Growth in the industry was mostly concentrated in Special Trade Construction.

Other Services (no change) This major industry sector composed of a wide range of service sectors remained stable. Over the past year it has shown small fluctuations around the 26,500-level.

Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-100) Within this industry grouping, a rise in jobs in Retail Trade, most notably in clothing and clothing accessory stores and general merchandise stores, were slightly more than offset by job contraction in Wholesale Trade and Air Transportation.

Professional & Business Services (-500) While there was job expansion in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment, the gains were countered by larger job losses in Employment Services and Administrative/Support/Waste Management/Remediation Services.

Education & Health Services (-500) Most of the job decline in this industry grouping occurred in Educational Services, with a drop in employment in both colleges and universities and elementary and secondary schools.

Leisure & Hospitality (-600) Since peaking at 103,400 in February, this industry has declined over-the-month for the fourth straight month. In June over May, job losses were in Accommodation and Food Services, with employment in Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation remaining stable. Likely factoring into the recent decreases is the over-the-year percentage drop in eastbound visitors due to the Japan natural disaster. Still, in comparison with June 2010, this industry has gained 1,200 jobs.

Government (-800) All of the job contraction in government occurred in State Government, with Federal and Local employment showing no over-the-month change. Within State Government, there were steeper than normal seasonal job declines at the Department of Education.

The data for July will be available on August 3, 2011. The schedule for the remainder of 2011 is available at https://www.bls.gov/lau/lausched.htm.

 

 

Submitted by DBEDT

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