The Alaska unemployment rate has stabilized while the national average continues to fall. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development released its unemployment numbers for January as well as the revised 2013 numbers today. Alaska remained at 6.4 percent for the month of January, unchanged from December 2013. The national averaged dropped a tenth of a percent to 6.6 percent for January.
Alaska unemployment and the national rate are the closest they have been in the past five years. The national average passed the Alaska rate in late 2008 in the midst of the recession. Alaska unemployment numbers are close to the pre-recession rate while the national rate remains above the pre-recession level. In the past twelve months, the Alaska unemployment rate has dropped only one tenth of one percent, while the national average has gone down 1.3 percent.
The not-seasonally adjusted rates increased in all but three census areas and boroughs between December and January. This is typical for the time of year. Kodiak Island, Aleutians East and Aleutians West saw lower rates due to the opening of winter groundfish and shellfish fisheries. Hoonah-Angoon Census area continues to see a high rate of unemployment and had the highest rate in January with 26.1 percent. The North Slope Borough had the lowest rate with 4.3 percent for first month of 2014.
For detailed employment estimates, visit http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/ces/
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