Alaskanomics

December jobs up 2.7 percent from December 2020

Jan. 21, 2022
No. 22-2

JUNEAU, Alaska — December’s job count was 2.7 percent higher than December 2020, an increase of 8,000 jobs but still 12,400 below the same month in 2019.

The leisure and hospitality sector had 3,300 more jobs than last December and 4,500 fewer than December 2019. The trade, transportation and utilities sector was up by 1,500 jobs over the year and still 500 below 2019. Oil and gas had 7,100 total jobs — 700 above year-ago levels but more than 3,000 below the previous year.

Local government was up by 600 jobs but down 2,200 from the previous December, mainly in public education. State government employment fell 700 below last year’s level and 500 short of 2019. Most public schools and university campuses have operated in person so far this school year after a remote 2020-2021. However, total state government employment fell over the year with the phase-out of temporary pandemic-related positions. Federal employment was up 100 from December 2020 and 400 above 2019.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.7 percent in December. The comparable U.S. rate declined to 3.9 percent.

View data tables and charts (PDF)

###

Labor force data home page

Alaska's population grew 0.1% from April 2020 to July 2021

Jan. 6, 2022
No. 22-1

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska’s population increased by 932 people — 0.1 percent — from April 2020 to July 2021, based on population estimates released today by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This was the first increase since 2016.

Despite slight overall growth, net migration — in-migrants minus out-migrants — accounted for a loss of 4,398 people. Alaska has lost more movers than it’s gained every year since 2013, but losses slowed during the pandemic as fewer people moved nationwide.

Alaska’s under-18 and 18-to-64-year-old populations each declined 1 percent, and the 65-and-older group grew 6 percent. The state’s highest median age was 49.0 in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area. The Kusilvak Census Area was youngest at 24.2.

Twenty-one of Alaska’s 30 boroughs and census areas lost population over the period. Fairbanks grew the most, gaining 1,860 people, followed the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (1,724). Anchorage lost the most (-1,550).

Complete estimates for the state, boroughs/census areas, cities and census-designated places are available here. Also available are estimates for census tracts, school districts and Alaska Native Regional Corporations and estimates by age and sex for each borough and census area and for places with populations of 1,000 or more.

View data table (Excel)

###