The Hawaii Employer Pulse Wants to Hear From You

Hawaii's employers are navigating a lot right now — workforce shortages, rising costs, shifting employee expectations, and the growing question of how AI fits into daily operations. But connecting those experiences with the people shaping workforce policy and resources can be a challenge.

That's the gap the Hawaii Employer Pulse Initiative is designed to close.

Launched by the Workforce Development Council (WDC) in partnership with the Hawaii Employers Council (HEC), the Employer Pulse Initiative is a statewide project designed to capture what employers are experiencing today — and what they see coming next. It combines a short statewide survey with a series of sector-based employer listening sessions across Hospitality, Health Care, Defense, Construction, IT/Technology, Energy, Public Sector, and General Services.

The goal of the project is simple: give employers a direct voice in conversations about hiring, workforce development resources, and the future of work in Hawai‘i — including how businesses are approaching AI adoption.

The survey takes about 10–12 minutes to complete (and can be completed on a smart/mobile device) and covers workforce and workplace trends, awareness of WIOA-funded resources, and AI readiness. All responses are reported in aggregate and employers who participate can also opt to join listening sessions for their industry, where a smaller group of peers will dig deeper into the themes explored in the survey.

Findings from both the survey and the listening sessions will be compiled into a final report this fall, providing the Workforce Development Council with a clear and current picture of what's happening on the ground for Hawaii’s employers.

If you haven't taken the survey yet, now's the time. Your perspective helps ensure the resources and policies shaping Hawaii's workforce are grounded in what employers are really facing. The more employers who participate, the more representative — and useful — the results will be, across every island and every sector.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY