January 2026

Released April 08, 2026

Download the full PDF for Hawaii

Download the summary PDF for Hawaii

United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In January, Hawaii added 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.2 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 2.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Hawaii’s private sector added 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Hawaii fell by 177, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,783.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 60.7 percent in January and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

---

Hawaii

Payroll employment

• Hawaii added 2,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,300 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 2,200 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 500 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500) and Federal Government (+0).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,400) and Professional and Business Services (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-3,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).

Hawaii

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Hawaii remained unchanged at 60.7 percent in January.

• Hawaii ranks 37th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.