The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) recently announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 2.3 percent, compared to 2.2 percent in January. In February, 672,150 persons were employed and 15,650 were unemployed, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 687,850 statewide. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in February, up from 4.3 percent in January.

In a separate measure of employment, total nonagricultural jobs increased by 400 month over month, from January 2026 to February 2026. Job gains were experienced in Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+500); Construction (+200); and Leisure & Hospitality (+100). Employment remained unchanged in Manufacturing; Information; and Financial Activities. Job losses occurred in Professional & Business Services (-100); Private Education & Health Services (-200); and Other Services (-300). Government employment went up by 200 jobs. Year over year, nonfarm jobs have gone up by 2,100, or 0.3 percent.