In the past two years, the unemployment rate has been relatively stable and remained close to the 10-year average. June’s rate increased one-tenth of a percent from the revised May number. Nationally, unemployment is at 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in May.
During June, the more urban areas in Alaska saw increases in not-seasonally adjusted rates because their economies are typically less seasonal and do not rely on tourism and/or fishing seasons. Bristol Bay Borough and Denali Borough have the lowest rates with 3.7 and 4.3 percent, respectively. Bristol Bay’s economy is dominated by the seafood industry and Denali relies on tourism in the summer months. The highest rate of unemployment continues to be the Kusilvak Census area at 25.7 percent. This area was recently renamed from Wade Hampton Census Area.
For full employment information and statistics, visit http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/
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