Jobless rate unchanged

Hawaii’s job market continues to strengthen even as the unemployment rate remains the same.

The state’s jobless rate held steady at 4.1 percent in March for the third straight month, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Monday.

But the number of nonfarm payroll jobs rose to 629,900 in March from 629,800 in February and from 624,000 in the year-earlier period.

"Our unemployment rate is healthy," said Eugene Tian, chief economist for the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. "I think 4.1 percent is stable and is similar to the 3.9 percent average we projected for the year."

Tian said the current 1 percent job growth for the first three months of the year is lagging DBEDT’s projected 1.5 percent job growth for the quarter.

"But it’s still an indication that the labor market continues to improve because we do see more jobs than a year ago," he said.

The largest job gain in any industry grouping was in trade, transportation and utilities. There were 1,100 more jobs in that grouping than in February, with new retail store openings contributing the bulk of the increase.

Hawaii’s labor force, which includes those who are employed and those who are unemployed but actively seeking work, reached a record 675,750. It’s the 15th month in a row that the labor force number has set a record.

The number of people employed totaled 648,050 in March, the 22nd record month in a row.

Fewer people also are filing for unemployment. Since the beginning of the year, initial unemployment claims have dropped 17.5 percent to 1,515 as of April 11 — the most recent period available — from 1,835.

"That’s another indication that the labor market continues to improve," Tian said.

State and national labor force data are adjusted for seasonal factors, but the county jobs data are not seasonally adjusted and thus do not take into account variations such as the winter holiday and the summer vacation seasons.

The unemployment rate decreased in all counties last month from February.

The rate decreased in Hono­­­lulu County to 3.6 percent from 3.9 percent; in Hawaii County to 4.9 percent from 5.3 percent; in Kauai County to 4.5 percent from 4.9 percent; and in Maui County to 4.2 percent from 4.4 percent.

Within Maui County, Maui island’s jobless rate fell to 4.1 percent from 4.3 percent, and Molokai’s rate dropped to 7.7 percent from 9.5 percent. Lanai’s rate edged up to 3.8 percent from 3.7 percent.