Employers ramped up hiring in the final days of summer and into early fall on Kaua‘i, in turn helping send the unemployment rate for September to its lowest level in three years.
The jobless rate plunged to 4 percent in September from 6.5 percent in September 2021, according to monthly data released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism.
The latest reading was also more than 16 percentage points lower than September 2020, when the unemployment rate measured 20.7 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most neighboring islands experienced similar decreases in jobless rate readings.
“All the counties are really continuing to make slow, gradual progress. The Kaua‘i and Maui (counties) maybe a little bit less,” said Carl Bonham, executive director of the Economic Research Organization of the University of Hawai‘i.
Labor market growth on Kaua‘i was paced by the accommodation sector, which boosted its job rolls to 3,900 in September from 3,400 in September 2021. The arts, entertainment and recreation sector followed, as its employment rosters rose to 1,300 from 900 in the same period.
Food service and drinking places grew to 3,900 in September from 3,700 in September 2021, while professional and business services increased to 2,800 from 2,600, and retail trade added 100 positions to end up at 3,800 in September.
But several sectors also shed jobs in the period. Federal government, financial activities, wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing and utilities each lopped off 100 jobs in September.
All told, the number of employed people on Kaua‘i climbed to 35,150 in September from 34,500 in September 2021. That marked a gain of 1.9 percent. At the same time, the civilian labor force decreased to 36,650 from 36,900, or down 0.7 percent.
Statewide, the unemployment rate sank to 3.4 percent in September from 5.3 percent in September 2021. Lana‘i recorded the lowest rate at 1.8 percent, down from 3.6 percent. Moloka‘i had the highest rate at 7.4 percent, a dip from 7.8 percent in the same period last year.
Hawai‘i County’s jobless rate fell to 3.5 percent in September from 5.1 percent in September 2021, while Maui County’s decreased to 3.7 percent from 6.3 percent.
Nationwide, the jobless rate dropped to 3.5 percent from 4.7 percent, according to data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Minnesota had the lowest rate at 2 percent in September, while the District of Columbia had the highest rate at 4.7 percent.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
