HI HCR145

Hawaii experienced a net loss of approximately 100,000 jobs in 2020, the highest rate of per-capita job loss in the country, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unemployed residents have sought assistance through Unemployment Insurance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and other state and federal compensation programs.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' antiquated technology has caused significant delays in processing benefit applications, and applicants report difficulty reaching the department by email and telephone.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is urged to prioritize clear, consistent, and accessible communication with all unemployment benefit applicants.

The Department is urged to ensure all telephone lines and email addresses are functioning and that contact information is readily accessible to applicants.