While Hawaii’s overall unemployment rate is still lower than most of the country, the rate on the Big Island has soared in the past year, with heavy impact from the sharp drop-off in tourism and construction resulting from the nation’s deepening recession

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The island jobless rate hit 10.2 percent in March, which is among the highest in the state, and more than the national average. It’s a staggering change from a year ago when it was just 4 percent, which is considered by economists as “full employment.”

The statewide jobless rate is 7.1 percent, the highest mark in over three decades

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People lined up as early as 5 a.m. Thursday at the Keauhou Convention Center in hopes of securing one of the 300 jobs that Target wants to fill for the island’s first location, which is slated to open in July.

Thousands of applications are expected to be submitted in the four-day event. More than 1,000 applications were filed online before the event. The numbers are impressive considering there are only 175,000 residents.

Total claims were roughly flat on Oahu and Molokai but rose on the other islands, with more than 200 more claims on the Big Island, with increases at both the Hilo and Kona offices, especially Kona. Hilo used to be busier but Kona has seen most of the action as the recession settles in. These are people thrown out of work, and the figures don’t count hotel workers who are still working but have had their hours cut way back.

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The figures from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.1 percent in the islands, compared with 3 percent a year ago. It’s also the highest since 1983.

The national rate is 7.6 percent, with California and three other states climbing to double digits.

In January 2008, Hawaii had about the best job picture in the nation, with just 3 percent unemployed statewide and a rosy 2.7 percent for Oahu. Now, the state’s slipped to 15th best, with Wyoming’s enviable 3 percent at the top.

This January, Hawaii labor officials counted 39,550 unemployed, while half that number were jobless a year ago.

The worst jobless rate for January was on Kauai, which had 8.8 percent. The Big Island was next with 8.4 percent, while Maui County reported 7.3 percent. The lowest unemployment rate was on Oahu, with 5.2 percent. All counties had significantly more jobless than a year ago.

The labor statistics are seasonally adjusted using standards set by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: Forbes