Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hawaii is Hiring intended to help?

Hawaii is Hiring is for unemployed residents, recent graduates and those simply looking for a career change. Job seekers will be able to navigate job opportunities, attend virtual career fairs, and explore training and educational resources for high-demand and high-growth careers identified through up to date local studies on Hawaii’s future labor market.

What is the purpose of Hawaii is Hiring? 

Hawaii is Hiring is designed to be a one-stop shop for Hawaii residents, compiling the top resources for individuals who are seeking employment, education, training, financial aid, and career fair resources- all aggregated on one website. Our team will monitor the provided resources to ensure they are kept up to date and active, as well as vet and add new opportunities that aid workforce and community recovery.

How do I apply for a job?

On the homepage, click on the “I’m Ready to Find a Job” icon. From there you will be redirected to a page where you will have the option to search for occupations on both Indeed and our local resource, HireNet. Job seekers will be able to filter their searches by island.

I am an employer. How do I add my open position to your website?

To have your open positions reflected on the site, simply post them on HireNet or Indeed. Hawaii is Hiring does not maintain its own job board, but rather aggregates existing position openings from our trusted partners.

Who is providing this resource?

Hawaii is Hiring was made possible by a collaboration of efforts between the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Workforce Development Council, American Savings Bank, Hawaii Executive Collaborative, UH Community Colleges, Upspring Digital, Library and Anthology Marketing Group.

Where does the Top 10 Lists of Employers Hiring Now come from and how does it know which companies or occupations to show? 

Emsi, an affiliate of the Strada Education Network, is the country’s leading provider of up to date regional labor market data. Emsi uses a combination of labor market data and hundreds of millions of job postings that are compiled into what is known as Job Posting Analytics (JPA). JPA is a component of Emsi that can help measure the demand for talent in a given region, providing details about the labor market, such as the number of positions available and specific skills requested by employers. JPA’s strength is that it has virtually no lag time – it is continuously updating as more job postings are made in live time. Due to JPA’s ability to pull live data, known as “real-time labor market data”, the companies and occupations featured will change to reflect the top companies and occupations available at any given time.

Job listings are based on available data and reflect jobs posted in the prior 30 days. Jobseekers should refer to the company website for the current hiring status.

Click HERE to view a video detailing the power of Emsi data.

Where does the total number of jobs posted come from?

HIH gathers the total number of jobs posted from Emsi, the country’s leading provider of up to date regional labor market data. Emsi uses a combination of labor market data and hundreds of millions of job postings that are compiled into what is known as Job Posting Analytics (JPA). JPA is a component of Emsi that can help measure the demand for talent in a given region, providing details about the labor market, such as the number of positions available and specific skills requested by employers. JPA’s strength is that it has virtually no lag time – since job postings are live; hence it is continuously updating as more job postings are made. Due to JPA’s ability to pull live data, known as “real-time labor market data”, the companies and occupations featured will change to reflect the top companies and occupations available at any given time.

Job listings are based on available data and reflect jobs posted in the prior 30 days. Jobseekers should refer to the company website for the current hiring status.

How does HIH determine which industries to feature?

Featured industries on HIH are those that data has forecasted will grow in the next 3 – 5 years in Hawaii and pay a living wage (living wage data adapted from MIT Living Wage Calculator and Aloha United Way ALICE Report). In-demand industries on HIH also reflect the priority industries highlighted in Hawaii’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Report.

How did you decide which Skilled Trade certificate programs and degrees to highlight?

The Skilled Trade programs that are featured are just some of the offerings available at local post-secondary institutions across the state. The skilled trade certifications help someone with limited knowledge and experience in the industry get their foot in the door through short-term classes, such as Introduction to Carpentry. These short-term programs allow job seekers to get a first-hand experience in the building and construction industry before committing to a 2 to 6-year apprenticeship program. We will continually add more skilled trade certifications and apprenticeship programs suggested by our partners in education and industry.

I’m unemployed and need help beyond what I see here on Hawaii Is Hiring. Who can I speak to? 

The State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has launched a new, informative website designed to help residents with specific UI-related questions. Learn more about the changing UI requirements in real-time, and access resources to assist you as you search for the right job for you. Click here to visit.

If you need additional support, please contact our partners at the American Job Center (AJC) to engage with a member of their dedicated staff who are ready to assist you. There are four AJCs across the state: Hawaii Island, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu. The best way to get in touch with their support staff is to call the respected offices where they will direct you to the department that is most appropriate to provide you with assistance. The contact information for the four AJCs can be found HERE.

I’m unemployed and need help with basic needs such as housing, etc. Who can I speak to? 

If you are in need of assistance with basic needs, such as food, housing, and healthcare, click on the “I Need Support or Relief” option under My Virtual Career Explorer located on the top bar of the homepage. You will be redirected to a variety of relief programs and offerings that are updated and curated by our staff. New support and relief opportunities will be added as they are made available, while expired aid resources will be promptly removed.

How can I add my internship, apprenticeship, service corps opportunity or education program to your site? 

If you have an internship, apprenticeship, service corps opportunity, or education program that you would like featured on Hawaii is Hiring, please fill out the contact form located on the top bar of the homepage. Please provide a description of the offering with the most detailed information possible, such as location, qualifications, requirements, duration, if it’s paid or non-paid, and in the case of education programs – the cost. Our staff will then validate the offering to determine whether or not it is in line with the mission and goals of Hawaii is Hiring.

For further inquiries, please fill out a Contact Form. Our team will respond within two to three business days.