workforce and education

Maui offers a dedicated, well-trained workforce. More than 92% of the over-25 population are high school graduates and almost 40% have Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or graduate degrees. Maui’s 34 public and 18 private K-12 schools are supplemented by the University of Hawaii’s UH-Maui College (UHMC), which provides over 20 degree and certificate programs as well as continuing education opportunities. In addition to the main campus in Kahului, UHMC runs satellite education centers on Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi as well as in Hāna. The Maui Job Corps Center offers additional post-secondary training options.   

To prepare the workforce for successful careers in 21st century businesses, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and CTE (career and technical education) programs are provided by many of Maui’s high schools as well as UHMC. Maui’s workforce also has access to centers of academic excellence on Oʻahu, such as Chaminade University and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Maui County’s civilian labor force is over 83,000, and the largest employment sectors of Maui’s economy are the visitor industry (including accommodation, food services, arts, and entertainment), construction, healthcare and social services, retail trade, and professional and business services. In terms of job growth, the fastest-expanding industries in 2024 are construction and healthcare.

Additionally, small but emerging industries include agriculture support services, computer services, cultural activities, video production, alternative power generation, and information technology.