MEDIA RELEASE

The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations has announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March declined to 5.1 percent, from 5.2 percent in February.

Statewide, there were 614,100 employed and 33,300 unemployed in March, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 647,400. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in March, compared to 7.7 percent in February.

Initial claims and weeks claims for unemployment benefits were both down by 157 claims or -8.3% and 2,519 claims or -17.6%, respectively compared to one year ago.

Between February and March 2013, initial claims dropped by 4.8% and weeks claims increased by 0.4%, respectively.

The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawaii and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State decreased to 5.0 percent in March from the 5.1 percent in February.

In a separate measure of employment, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs declined by 500 over-the-month.

In March over February, job gains occurred in Construction (+700), Leisure & Hospitality (+500), and Educational & Health Services (+100).

Within Construction, Special Trade Construction, most notably electrical contractors, provided a considerable boost in employment.

Job gains in Leisure & Hospitality were mostly concentrated in Food Services & Drinking Places.

Over-the-month job contraction took place in Manufacturing (-100), Other Services (-200), Financial Activities (-200), Professional & Business Services (-200), and Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-800).

Decline in Retail Trade, spread over various retail sectors but most notably in Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores, accounted for the drop in Trade, Transportation, & Utilities. Government employment went down by 200 jobs. In terms of major industry job levels over-the-year, Construction has expanded by 3,100 jobs, or 10.7 percent, while Educational & Health Services (+1,800) and Professional & Business Services (+1,600) have also added a significant amount of jobs.