The latest figures from the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) show a steady unemployment rate in the islands for August. The DBEDT report points to a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remaining constant at 2.7 percent, mirroring July's same figure. August saw 668,950 individuals employed and 18,250 jobless out of a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 687,250 across the state. The unemployment rate stands below the national average, which rose slightly to 4.3 percent in August, up from 4.2 percent the previous month.
Regarding industry payroll shifts, the numbers indicate a marginal climb in nonagricultural jobs with a 600 job increase from July to August. "Job gains were experienced in Private Education & Health Services (+500); Construction (+300); and Professional & Business Services (+300)," as stated by the DBEDT. Notably, within the 'Private Education & Health Services' sector, the jump primarily arose in the 'Health Care & Social Assistance' subcategory. Several industries such as Manufacturing, and Leisure & Hospitality maintained their employment rates without changes, while some sectors like Financial Activities, Trade, Transportation & Utilities, Information, and Other Services witnessed job declines.
The DBEDT report also provided a detailed breakdown of what constitutes the labor force and the criteria for being counted as employed or unemployed. According to their release, the employed category includes anyone who worked as a paid employee, ran their own business or farm, worked 15 hours or more in a family business, or had jobs but were temporarily absent for a variety of personal reasons. Anyone without employment during the survey reference week, available for work, except temporary illness, and had actively sought work during the four-week period was categorized as unemployed. These unemployment rates are derived directly from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which differs from the Establishment Survey that calculates industry job counts.
The DBEDT news release also included information on the methodology behind seasonal adjustment. This process aims "to eliminate the effects of regular seasonal fluctuations on the data" so that month-to-month changes reflect more than just seasonal employment patterns. It further elaborated on revisions to the unemployment statistics, stating that data for 2019 to 2024 had underpinned revisions and estimates dating back to 1990 re-estimated to better reflect demographic adjustments. These updates aim to provide clearer insights into the state's labor dynamics.
For local metrics, the not-seasonally adjusted job estimates for Hawai‘i County, Kaua‘i County, Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i are conjured up by the DBEDT. Additionally, the BLS publishes smoother seasonally adjusted civilian labor force and unemployment estimates for metropolitan areas, including the City and County of Honolulu and Maui County. Data revisions and methodological changes are standard practice to ensure accuracy and relevance in reflecting the ever-changing economic landscape.
