Employment in Honolulu County increased by 0.4 percent from March 2024 to March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Chris Rosenlund, Regional Commissioner for the BLS, noted that this rate placed Honolulu at 167th among the 364 largest U.S. counties for employment growth during that period.
In March 2025, Honolulu reported a total employment figure of 456,000, which represented about 70.7 percent of Hawaii’s total employment. Across the country, large counties—defined as those with annual average employment levels of at least 75,000—accounted for approximately 73.4 percent of covered employment in the United States.
The average weekly wage in Honolulu rose by 6.5 percent over the year to $1,412. Nationally, the average was $1,589, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.1 percent. Honolulu’s weekly wage ranked it at number 144 among large U.S. counties for pay level and at number 16 for percentage change over the year.
For Hawaii’s three smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employed in 2024—employment and wage levels are also reported but without annual comparisons. In this group, Kauai had the highest average weekly wage at $1,226; Maui + Kalawao followed with $1,215; and Hawaii County reported the lowest at $1,183—all below the national average.
The release also includes QCEW data for states in table form and points readers to further details available through BLS resources such as their technical note and website.
Information from this release can be provided to individuals with sensory impairments upon request via voice phone or Telecommunications Relay Service.
The next County Employment and Wages report covering second quarter data is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
“Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the rate of employment growth in Honolulu ranked 167th among the 364 largest U.S. counties with published data.”
