United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Hawaii Employment Snapshot
In May, Hawaii added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 3,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Hawaii is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Hawaii’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 500 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Hawaii fell by 599, and over the past 12 months it fell by 9,179.
Hawaii’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.6 percent in May from 59.7 percent and is tied for 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Hawaii Payroll Employment
Hawaii added 2,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,800 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Hawaii is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Hawaii remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Hawaii added 500 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Hawaii ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during May were Government (2,100) and Professional and Business Services (700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (3,000) and Education and Health Services (2,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,200).
Hawaii Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Hawaii fell to 59.6 percent in May from 59.7 percent in the prior month.
Hawaii is tied for 40th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent occurring in May 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in September 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.