By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Maui County’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in September 2026, up from 2.9% in August and 2.4% a year earlier, according to state DBEDT data reported Oct. 19, 2026. Kahului-Wailuku payroll jobs totaled 74,800, still 1,000 more than in September 2025, and Maui home and condo sales were running ahead of 2025’s pace.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and the latest Maui unemployment rate is worth a closer look if you’re planning to buy or sell in the next few months. Jobs drive housing demand, lender approvals and rental demand. The September numbers show some softening, but they don’t tell a single, simple story.

What is Maui’s unemployment rate right now?

The Maui unemployment rate was 3.1% for September 2026, not seasonally adjusted. That’s the most recent county figure, released Oct. 19, 2026 and reported by Maui Now from Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) data:

Area	Sept. 2026	Aug. 2026	Sept. 2025
Maui County	3.1%	2.9%	2.4%
Maui island	3.1%	2.9%	2.3%
Molokaʻi	3.5%	3.6%	5.8%
Lānaʻi	4.2%	3.4%	2.2%

For context, DBEDT’s June 2026 release put Maui County at 3.2%, so September’s rate isn’t a new high for the year. County rates move with the seasons, which is why I compare September to the September before rather than to the summer.

Are there more or fewer jobs on Maui than a year ago?

More, but the count dipped last month. Seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs in the Kahului-Wailuku metro area were 74,800 in September 2026, down from 75,200 in August but up from 73,800 in September 2025, per the same DBEDT figures. A rising unemployment rate alongside more jobs than a year ago can happen when more people are looking for work.

How does Maui compare with the rest of Hawaiʻi and the U.S.?

Maui is close to the state and below the nation. Hawaiʻi’s seasonally adjusted rate was 2.8% in September 2026, up from 2.7% in August, and the U.S. rate was 4.2%, according to DBEDT’s Oct. 19 release. Statewide payroll jobs were unchanged from August and up 400 from a year earlier. Leisure and hospitality added 1,000 jobs statewide, while construction lost 700, which DBEDT attributed in part to inclement weather.

Measure (Sept. 2026)	Rate or change
Maui County unemployment (not seasonally adjusted)	3.1%
Hawaiʻi unemployment (seasonally adjusted)	2.8%
U.S. unemployment (seasonally adjusted)	4.2%
Hawaiʻi payroll jobs, year over year	Up 400

Does rising unemployment mean Maui home prices will fall?

Not on its own, and I wouldn’t treat one month as a forecast. Maui’s housing market depends on local jobs, but also on mortgage rates, demand from outside the county, insurance costs and, for condos, Bill 9 (Ordinance 5909, signed Dec. 15, 2025).

What the sales data shows so far: according to the REALTORS® Association of Maui (RAM), 537 single-family homes sold countywide from January through September 2026, up from 527 a year earlier, at a $1,219,000 median, down from $1,300,000. Condo sales rose to 620 from 512, while the condo median fell to $655,000 from $702,500. More sales at lower medians is a market where buyers have had more room to negotiate. A softer job market could add to that, or it could level off as visitor traffic picks up in the winter. Both are scenarios, not predictions.

If you’re moving for work, my Maui job market guide covers the major employers and industries, and my post on UHERO’s fall 2026 Maui forecast looks at the broader outlook.

My Take: What I’m Telling Buyers and Sellers

For sellers, my approach is to price to where the market appears to be going, not where it’s been. Look at what the next three months suggest, based on the most recent sales, pending sales and data like this jobs report, and price to that so you’re leading the market rather than following it. That’s a judgment based on current data, not a guarantee, and a comparable from three months ago may already be outdated.

For buyers, job stability matters as much as the rate. Lenders verify employment and income close to closing, so if you’re changing jobs or moving to Maui for a new position, talk with your lender before you give notice or sign an offer letter with a start date after closing. If your income is steady, a market with more sales and lower medians than last year can give you room to negotiate on price, repairs or closing costs.

For investors weighing long-term rentals, the number to watch over the next few months is whether Kahului-Wailuku payroll jobs stay above last year. That’s a cleaner read on local rental demand than any single month’s unemployment rate. I’ll keep an eye on the October figures when DBEDT releases them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the unemployment rate on Maui?
Maui County’s rate was 3.1% in September 2026 (not seasonally adjusted), up from 2.9% in August and 2.4% in September 2025, per DBEDT data.

How many jobs are there on Maui?
The Kahului-Wailuku metro area had 74,800 seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs in September 2026, up 1,000 from a year earlier.

Is Maui’s unemployment higher than the state’s?
Maui County was 3.1% (not seasonally adjusted). The state’s not seasonally adjusted rate was 3.2% and its seasonally adjusted rate was 2.8%.

Are Maui home sales down in 2026?
No. RAM reported 537 single-family and 620 condo sales from January through September 2026, both higher than in 2025, though medians were lower.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re trying to decide when to buy or sell on Maui and want to see how today’s data applies to a specific home, I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and I’m happy to put the numbers together for you. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: Hawaiʻi DBEDT news release, September 2026 unemployment (Oct. 19, 2026, via Office of the Governor); DBEDT news release NR-26-49 (June 2026 data, July 20, 2026); Maui Now (Oct. 19, 2026); REALTORS® Association of Maui September 2026 report (dated Oct. 1, 2026).