The statewide unemployment rate increased slightly to 2.5 percent in May, but Hawai'i's jobless rate was still the second lowest in the nation.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Hawai'i's seasonally adjusted jobless rate increased 0.1 percentage point last month from April's 2.4 percent rate.

Hawai'i tied Utah for the second lowest jobless rate and trailed Idaho and Montana, where the unemployment rates were 2.3 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.5 percent last month.

"We continue to be pleased with the steady performance of the state's vibrant economy that has kept unemployment rate at continuously low levels," said Labor Department Director Nelson Befitel.

O'ahu's unemployment rate dipped to 2.2 percent from 2.3 percent in April, while the Big Island's jobless rate increased by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent.

The unemployment rates for Maui and Kaua'i were unchanged at 2.2 percent.

The statewide unemployment rate is adjusted for seasonal variations such as school hiring and cannot be directly compared with county numbers, which are not seasonally adjusted.

According to the Labor Department, the number of unemployed people increased 2.9 percent to 16,200 in May, while the number of employed people in Hawai'i was virtually unchanged at 654,000.

The total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs, meanwhile, grew 1.1 percent to 629,200.

The federal and state governments added 3,800 positions, while the leisure and hospitality industries increased by 700 during the month.

Food services and accommodations were up 600 positions, while the education and health services sectors increased by 400. The state's construction industry added 300 positions last month.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.