Hawaii's Unemployment Rate Holds Steady Amid Labor Force Growth

Hawaii's unemployment rate remains low despite an increase in the number of people out of work. The state's labor force has grown, and so have the number of employed individuals.

The number of unemployed rose to 18,800 in August from 18,350 in July, but this is still lower than the peak of 18,931 in September 2024. Hawaii's unemployment rate remains at 2.7%, tied with two other states for the fourth-lowest rate in the nation.

Eugene Tian, former chief economist for DBEDT, notes that more people are looking for work, but this doesn't necessarily mean the economy is struggling. In fact, Hawaii's nonfarm payroll jobs grew by 100 to 643,000 in August, with professional and business services adding 700 new positions.