Hawai'i's October seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7 percent led the rest of the country for the eighth month in a row.

The rest of the country had a 5 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. No other state had an October unemployment rate below 3.4 percent, according to the Hawai'i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

In September, Hawai'i also had a 2.7 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

While workers are enjoying the benefits of a tight labor market, employers are having a harder time filling openings.

Carl Hinson, director of workforce development for Hawaii Pacific Health, still has about 300 full- and part-time job openings to fill at Straub Clinic and Hospital, Wilcox Health and Kapiolani Health.

"It's just a continuation of what we already know," Hinson said of the October unemployment numbers. "When the economy starts to slide, we'll see a lot of secondary wage earners stepping up and becoming primary wage earners. Obviously we're not seeing that kind of shift because the economy's still heated. It's a continuation of the status quo, which is terrible for us."

Hawaii Pacific Health still needs to fill nursing and technical positions but is also starting to see shortages of accountants, especially those with experience, Hinson said.

October's unemployment rate meant that 630,200 people were employed and 17,750 were still unemployed.

"The stability of the low unemployment rate and steady job growth in the state continue to strengthen and sustain Hawai'i's vibrant economy," said Nelson Befitel, state director of labor and industrial relations.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.