Jobless rate is steady despite dip in workers

Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.2 percent in February from January, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday.

Although the unemployment rate was unchanged, the underlying labor force data suggest there was a slight deterioration in the job market in February.

The number of unemployed residents who were looking for work rose to 33,750 in February, an increase of 50 from January. The number of employed, meanwhile, fell by 1,000 to 617,250. The result was a net decline in the overall labor force, which is a combination of the two categories of workers.

Hawaii’s 5.2 percent February unemployment rate compared with a 7.7 percent rate nationally.

The statewide and national data are adjusted for seasonal variations, such as the hiring of temporary workers for the holiday shopping season.

County data are not seasonally adjusted. The unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent from 4.8 percent for Hono­lulu County, to 7.2 percent from 7.5 percent for Hawaii County, to 6.4 percent from 6.5 percent for Kauai County and to 5.6 percent from 5.7 percent for Maui County.

The labor force data are derived largely from a telephone survey of households. A separate survey of businesses showed that the economy lost 2,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in February from January.

The biggest decline was in the leisure and hospitality industry, which shed 900 jobs in February.

Professional and business services lost 500 positions, while employment in trade, transportation and utilities fell by 400.

Although payroll jobs declined in February from January, they were up 9,100 from February 2012. The biggest increase on a year-over-year basis was in the construction industry, which added 2,300 jobs.

The trade, transportation and utilities category gained 1,600 positions, while leisure and hospitality, as well as professional and business services, each added 1,500 jobs.