KAT WADE / SPECIAL TO THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER
Hawaii State Chief Economist, Eugene Tian, Phd.
Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
According to the latest figures, released last week, May’s overall labor-force count in the islands fell to the lowest level in more than four years as the state’s economy continued to lose steam. The count, which includes the employed as well those in the unemployed-but-actively-seeking-work bracket, was 667,800.
Eugene Tian, the state’s chief economist, noted that in addition to the standard count of people who either give up on their job hunt or are simply not looking, the drop likely means a second group is moving to the mainland, as the economy — and various job opportunities — are now better there than here.
Pack a meal; union may strike
Last week, Unite Here Local 5, representing airline catering workers, took a vote and got authorization for a strike. These are workers in 21 airport locations, including Oahu and Maui, who make sure the food packed for in-flight meal and snack service is onboard.
That might not worry folks making short mainland hops, but isle folks fly for five hours. Talk of labor strikes in the offing always make people a bit anxious, but this one could leave Hawaii trans-Pacific travelers a bit hungry, too.
