Ep.#110: Hawaii Economics: Inequality, Jobs, and Future of Education | Rachel Inafuku, PhD

In this episode of The Hawaii Retirement Show, host Jason Cutitta, CFP® is joined by Rachel Inafuku, PhD of UHERO to break down key insights on Hawaii’s economy, including inequality, job opportunities, and the evolving role of education. They discuss why Hawaii appears more equal than other states despite its high cost of living, and how the state’s unique economic structure shapes wages and career outcomes. The conversation explores the impact of job training programs like Good Jobs Hawaii, which industries are seeing the strongest wage growth, and how AI is reshaping the value of education by emphasizing critical thinking, adaptability, and non-routine skills. They close with a discussion on Hawaii’s housing market and insights from the UHERO Housing Factbook. Rachel Inafuku, PhD:  https://uhero.hawaii.edu/people/rachel-inafuku/ UHERO: https://uhero.hawaii.edu Website: https://www.hiretirementshow.com Email Us: [email protected]