A broad measure of joblessness that includes those who are forced into part-time jobs or have become so discouraged that they’ve stopped looking for work fell in Hawaii to 12.8 percent in 2012 from 15.1 percent in 2011, according to a report released today.

The rate, used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to measure labor underutilization, was the 17th lowest among the 50 states, the BLS reported. It was lower than the national average of 14.7 percent.

BLS refers to it as the “U-6” rate, and it encompasses the narrower “U-3” rate that is reported on a monthly basis. Hawaii’s U-3 rate averaged 6 percent in 2012, according to the BLS. The U-3 rate includes all jobless people who are available for work and have actively sought employment in the previous four weeks.