The State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development released its unemployment numbers for May. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained relatively unchanged at 6.8 percent. This is only one-tenth of a percent higher than it was in April. It is still above the national average, which was 5.5 percent in May. In comparison, the non-seasonally adjusted rates fell four-tenths of a percent. This is common with the increase in summer tourism throughout the state.
Most boroughs and census areas had a decrease in the unadjusted rates for April. Denali Borough had the biggest drop going from 17 percent to 5.1 percent. Summer tourism is responsible for much of the increased employment in Alaska. The areas that had an increase in unemployment were the North Slope Borough, Kodiak Island Borough, Aleutians East Borough and Aleutians West Census Area. The North Slope is typically stable throughout the year, but had an unusual winter construction season. The other three are usually different than the rest of the state because of the increase in employment during the winter fishing season.
Detailed employment statistics can be read at http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/ces/index.cfm
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