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Posted: Friday, June 15th, 2012 9:10 AM HST

State unemployment holds steady in May

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Statewide unemployment held steady at 6.3 percent in May as gains in the leisure and hospitality sector offset losses in government, professional and construction jobs. The Big Island jobless rate rose from 8.6 to 8.8 percent. The state's jobless rate had been inching down since peaking at 7.1 percent during the 2008-2009 recession, but remains well above the cyclical low of 2.5 percent in 2006. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in May from 8.1 percent in April.