Employment declined 0.6 percent in Honolulu, the only large county in Hawaii, from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hawaii employment decreased 0.3 percent over the year to 643,900 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the rate of employment growth in Honolulu ranked 240th among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.

Employment in Honolulu stood at 454,800 in March 2026, accounting for 70.6 percent of total employment in Hawaii. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)

The average weekly wage in Honolulu was $1,441. The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year. Honolulu’s weekly wage ranked 162nd among the largest U.S. counties.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 1.7 percent over the year to $1,387. Hawaii ranked 29th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 51st in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the three smaller counties in Hawaii, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Maui + Kalawao reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,250), followed by Kauai ($1,220). Hawaii County reported the lowest average weekly wage ($1,190) in the state. (See map 1 and table 2.)