The State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development released its monthly employment numbers last week. Alaska is holding relatively flat with a seasonally adjusted rate of 6.6 percent, which is just below the three-year average of 6.8 percent. Alaska is still above the national average, which was 5.1 percent in August, and continues to drop back to pre-recession levels.
The unadjusted unemployment rate in August was 5.5 percent. August typically has the highest economic activity of the year throughout most of the state. Rates fell in all but three boroughs and census areas. The only three areas to see an increase in August were in the Bristol Bay region. July is the peak for salmon fishing in the region, which is the reason for the increase.
The Southwest Region and Northern Region both have higher than average unemployment rates. Neither area sees a significant increase with tourism and other than the fishing areas of Bristol Bay, the other areas in the Southwest Region have significantly higher rates than the rest of the state. The other regions of the state are much closer to the average unemployment figures.
For more detailed statistics visit, http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/
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