Hawai'i's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July remained at 2.7 percent for the third consecutive month, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced yesterday.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has averaged 2.8 percent for the first seven months of the year and has regularly led the nation. The national unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in July.

July's unemployment figures meant that 617,150 people were employed and 17,300 were not. Compared to a year ago, the number of employed has risen 3.5 percent and the number of unemployed has fallen 8.2 percent.

The number of nonagricultural jobs grew to a record 600,300 in July.

Hawai'i's construction industry added 500 jobs for the month; trade, transportation and utilities jobs grew by 400. The number of jobs in education and health services increased by 200, while leisure and hospitality added 100 jobs. The government sector lost 100 jobs, according to the report.

"It is amazing that Hawai'i has now realized more job growth than at any other time in history," said Nelson Befitel, director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. "The state's job growth has truly benefited from the ongoing economic expansion and improving business climate."

The statewide unemployment rate before adjustment for seasonal variations was 3.0 percent in July. It was 2.7 percent in Maui County, 2.9 percent in Honolulu and Kaua'i County, and 3.8 percent in Hawai'i County.