Hawaii Unemployment Rate Holds at 2.7% in August 2025
September 18, 2025
Source: Released September 18, 2025 (DBEDT); BLS report dated September 19, 2025
Hawaii's labor market remained tight through mid-2025, with unemployment near historic lows. The figures below come from official government releases.
August 2025 unemployment rate
The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) announced on September 18, 2025 that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August was 2.7 percent, unchanged from July.
Key labor force figures for August 2025:
- Employed: 668,950 persons
- Unemployed: 18,250 persons
- Total labor force: 687,250 (seasonally adjusted)
The not-seasonally-adjusted rate for the state was 2.6 percent in August, also unchanged from July.
Comparison with the national rate
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in August 2025, up from 4.2 percent in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Hawaii's rate of 2.7 percent was among the lowest in the country.
Job growth over the year
DBEDT reported that Hawaii added 11,900 nonfarm payroll jobs over the year ending August 2025, a 1.9 percent increase. The BLS State Employment and Unemployment release dated September 19, 2025 confirmed Hawaii's seasonally adjusted rate at 2.7 percent and noted Hawaii among states with the largest percentage job gains.
What this means for UI claimants
A low unemployment rate generally means fewer workers are competing for open positions, but it does not change eligibility rules for unemployment insurance. Claimants must still meet all DLIR requirements, including work search contacts and weekly certifications.
For current labor market data, visit the BLS Hawaii Economy at a Glance page or DBEDT's labor statistics releases.
Sources:
- DBEDT News Release NR-25-37, Hawaii August Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.7 Percent (September 18, 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, State Employment and Unemployment Summary (September 19, 2025)