HONOLULU — The unemployment rate on Kauai continues to drop. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported that Kauai’s unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent in February. That’s a 0.7 decrease from February 2016. “There’s opportunity for people who
HONOLULU — The unemployment rate on Kauai continues to drop.
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported that Kauai’s unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent in February.
That’s a 0.7 decrease from February 2016.
“There’s opportunity for people who want to get work,” said Eric Nordmeier, president of the West Kauai Business and Professional Association, and former director of WorkWise Kauai.
Last month, the most popular jobs on Kauai were in trade, transportation and utilities and hospitality, according to DLIR.
On Kauai, 6,100 people were employed in the trade sector, which includes retail, food and beverage stores, grocery stores and retail.
That represents an increase of 200 employees since February 2016.
As for the hospitality industry, 9,600 Kauai residents had jobs in food service, accommodations and full service restaurants last month, according to DLIR.
While that number is consistent with last February’s workforce, it’s 300 more than February 2015.
Last month, Kauai had the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state, behind the City and County of Honolulu, which had recorded a 2.5 percent unemployment rate.
Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8 percent last month, a 0.3 percent decrease from last year.
Statewide, 675,500 were employed and 19,350 unemployed in February for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 694,850, according to a release from DLIR.
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in February, compared to 5.2 percent last year, according to DLIR.
On April 18, over 50 employers will be at the Kauai Community College Job Fair.
“It gets college students to be aware of opportunities that are out there, especially for those on the verge of graduating,” Nordmeier said.
