News Releases

DBEDT logo - 2024
Hawaii December Unemployment Rate at 3.0 PercentPosted on January 27, 2025 in News
DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 3.0 percent, compared to 2.9 percent for the previous six consecutive months.
Read More Hawaii December Unemployment Rate at 3.0 Percent
Logo - Office of Planning & Sustainable Development
Hawaii Receives Federal Designation as Nation’s First Statewide Economic Development DistrictPosted on January 17, 2025 in News
Office of Planning and Sustainable Development — DBEDT is proud to announce that Hawaii has become the nation’s first statewide economic development district (EDD), a designation approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.
Read More Hawaii Receives Federal Designation as Nation’s First Statewide Economic Development District
Creative Industries Hawaii
Call for Submissions Issued for Hawaii Film and Creative Content Funding SupportPosted on December 31, 2024 in News
DBEDT's Creative Industries Division Hawaii today released a request for proposals toward the development of small, mid-sized and microbudget film and creative media projects.
Read More Call for Submissions Issued for Hawaii Film and Creative Content Funding Support
DBEDT logo - 2024
Visitor Industry Recorded Fourth Consecutive Year-over-Year Growth in November 2024Posted on December 31, 2024 in News
According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 770,940 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in November 2024, growth of 5.3 percent compared to the same month last year.
Read More Visitor Industry Recorded Fourth Consecutive Year-over-Year Growth in November 2024
DBEDT logo - 2024
Hawaii November Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.9. PercentPosted on December 19, 2024 in News
DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 2.9 percent, the same for the sixth consecutive month.
Read More Hawaii November Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.9. Percent
Creative Industries Hawaii
Good Jobs Hawaii to Offer Specialized Creative Industries Training Courses for Spring 2025Posted on December 5, 2024 in News
Hawaii residents are invited to hone high-demand creative industry skills with two production courses set for Spring 2025, offered through the University of Hawaii Community Colleges' Good Jobs Hawaii initiative in collaboration with DBEDT's Creative Industries Division.
Read More Good Jobs Hawaii to Offer Specialized Creative Industries Training Courses for Spring 2025
Quarterly Statistical & Economic Report
DBEDT Keeps Hawaii Economic Growth Rate at 2.0 Percent for 2025Posted on December 4, 2024 in News
DBEDT released its fourth quarter 2024 Statistical and Economic Report today. In the report, DBEDT raised its economic growth projections for 2024 to 1.6 percent and kept the 2025 economic growth rate at 2.0 percent, the same as projected in the previous quarter.
Read More DBEDT Keeps Hawaii Economic Growth Rate at 2.0 Percent for 2025
DBEDT logo - 2024
Visitor Industry Continued Improvement in October 2024Posted on November 27, 2024 in News
According to preliminary statistics from DBEDT, there were 774,617 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in October 2024, growth of 5.4 percent from the same month last year.
Read More Visitor Industry Continued Improvement in October 2024
DBEDT logo - 2024
Hawaii October Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.9 PercentPosted on November 18, 2024 in News
DBEDT today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.9 percent, the same for the fifth consecutive month.
Read More Hawaii October Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.9 Percent
Creative Industries Hawaii
“Rescue: HI-Surf” Episode Directed by Native Hawaiian Filmmaker Erin Lau to Air November 4 on FOXPosted on November 1, 2024 in News
The pulse-pounding new drama "Rescue: HI-Surf," a co-production of John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment, continues to further opportunities for Hawaii's creative talent.
Read More “Rescue: HI-Surf” Episode Directed by Native Hawaiian Filmmaker Erin Lau to Air November 4 on FOX