The state's unemployment rate remained steady in August at 2.6 percent, unchanged from the previous month, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

With a seasonably adjusted rate of 2.6 percent, Hawai'i was tied with Utah for the No. 2 spot in the country, according to figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Idaho continued to have the country's lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, while Michigan had the highest at 7.4 percent.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 percent in August also was identical to the July rate.

Hawai'i has not had an unemployment rate at or above 3 percent since December 2004. In August 2006, the state's unemployment was at 2.3 percent.

Last month, the state's seasonally adjusted labor force was 642,450 and comprised 625,850 employed and 16,600 unemployed, the labor department said. The statewide unemployment rate is adjusted for seasonal variations such as summer hiring and cannot be directly compared with county numbers, which are not seasonally adjusted.

The largest job growth occurred in educational and health care services, which increased by 700 jobs in August. Jobs in construction and trade, transportation, and utilities saw the second largest increase of 200 jobs.

"Hawai'i's job force continues to benefit from job growth as a by-product of a strong local economy," said Darwin Ching, department director.

Each county except for Kaua'i saw a slight increase in non-seasonally adjusted unemployment when compared with the same month last year.

Honolulu jumped from 2.3 percent in August 2006 to 2.6 percent last month; Hawai'i County went from 2.8 percent in 2006 to 3.3 percent last month; and Maui County increased from 2.2 percent to 3 percent in 2007.

Kaua'i's unemployment rate went from 2.6 percent in August 2006 to 2.4 percent last month.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.