State officials in Hawaii say the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 10 years and businesses are struggling to find staff.
Honolulu, capital of US state of Hawaii. Photo: Cain Nunns
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director Linda Chu Takayama said businesses that pay the minimum wage were having the most difficulty finding staff.
The minimum wage is $US9.25 an hour and due to rise to $US10.10 in January.
The restaurant Grace's Inn in Honolulu announced recently it would close for lack of staff.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue's Bryan Andaya said about 30 percent of its job applicants don't even show up for their first interview.
He said another 20 percent of those that were hired don't make it to their first shift.
