In December, Hawaii chalked up a fourth consecutive month of unemployment rate declines, according to federal figures released this week. While the gradual drop from last September’s 15% is encouraging, wrapping up 2020 with a rate of 9.3% also leaves Hawaii in the unwanted standing of having the nation’s highest level of unemployment. The U.S. jobless rate was 6.7% last month.

The state credited some recent job gains to tourism initiatives and a healthy construction industry. But further complicating the labor picture: Last month saw upwards of 10,000 people — including a large count of self-employed workers — apparently drop out of Hawaii’s labor force.