Research & Economic Analysis

Hawaii’s labor market conditions were mixed in the fourth quarter of 2023. The civilian labor force decreased. Civilian unemployment decreased and civilian employment slightly increased. Civilian non-agricultural wage and salary jobs increased.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the civilian labor force averaged 675,000 people, a decrease of 5,200 people or 0.8 percent from the same quarter of 2022 (Table A-1). In 2023, the civilian labor force decreased 450 people or 0.1 percent from the previous year.

Civilian employment averaged 655,100 people in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 100 people or 0.02 percent compared to the same quarter of 2022 (Table A-2). In 2023, average civilian employment increased 2,950 people or 0.5 percent from the previous year.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of civilian unemployed averaged 19,900, a decrease of 5,300 people or 21.0 percent from the same quarter of 2022 (Table A-3). In 2023, the number of unemployed decreased 3,400 people or 14.4 percent from the previous year.

The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, 0.7 percentage point below the fourth quarter of 2022 (Table A-4). In 2023, the unemployment rate decreased 0.5 percentage point from the previous year’s 3.5 percent to 3.0 percent.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Hawaii’s non-agricultural wage and salary jobs averaged 637,700 jobs, an increase of 5,000 jobs or 0.8 percent from the same quarter of 2022 (Table A-6). In 2023, average non-agricultural wage and salary jobs increased 2.3 percent or 14,000 jobs from the previous year.

The job increase in the fourth quarter of 2023 was due to job increases in both the private sector and the government sector. In this quarter, the private sector added about 1,800 non-agricultural jobs compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The majority of the private sector industries added jobs in the quarter. The number of jobs increased the most in Health Care and Social Assistance, which added 1,300 jobs or 1.8 percent (Table A-16), followed by Food Services and Drinking Places, which added 1,100 jobs or 1.7 percent (Table A-19), Private Educational Services, which added 900 jobs or 6.1 percent (Table A-15), and Professional and Business Services, which added 700 jobs or 1.0 percent (Table A-14) in the quarter.

The Government sector added 3,200 jobs or 2.6 percent (Table A-21) in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of 2022. The Federal Government added 400 jobs or 1.1 percent (Table A-22), the State Government added 2,600 jobs or 3.7 percent (Table A-23), and the Local Government added 400 jobs or 2.2 percent (Table A-24), compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

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