December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Hawaii Employment Snapshot

• In December, Hawaii added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 2,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 11,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Hawaii is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Hawaii’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Hawaii rose by 231, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,332.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.9 percent in December from 59.8 percent and is tied for 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Hawaii Payroll Employment

• Hawaii added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Hawaii added 2,900 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Hawaii is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Hawaii added 2,800 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Hawaii is tied for 13th 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 December were Leisure and Hospitality (900) and Education and Health Services (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-100) and Manufacturing (-200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (3,700) and Education and Health Services (3,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-600) and Information (-1,300).

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 rose to 59.9 percent in December from 59.8 percent in the prior month.

• Hawaii is tied for 39th 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 remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.