Alaska’s unemployment rate still above national average

(The Center Square) – Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October is 4.3%, remaining above the national average of 3.9% in October, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

But the state’s job county was up over last year, led by new job additions in healthcare, according to a DOLWD report released Friday.

Data shows the state’s job count in October grew by 2.1% over October 2022, an increase of 6,500 jobs. The healthcare sector added the most jobs at 1,400, with the “strongest growth” in hospitals, the report said.

Nonfarm employment is 322,000 for October, down by 55,400 jobs from September. Jobs in the private sector totaled 242,200 in October, a decrease of 55,600 private sector jobs from the previous month, the report said.

It’s an improvement over October 2022. Overall, October’s job count in the private sector was up by 5,500 jobs over the past year and up by 6,500 for total nonfarm employment, according to the report.

Most Alaska industries experienced growth. The leisure and hospitality sector grew by 1,000 jobs, with restaurants and bars being the primary growth drivers. Professional business services increased by 700 jobs over the year, and warehousing and utilities added 600 jobs. Similarly, the mining sector, which includes oil and gas, also added 600 jobs, according to DOLWD.

Two job sectors did not grow in Alaska. Jobs in information remained flat, and employment in the financial activities sector decreased by 100 jobs, the report said.

Federal government employment increased the most in Alaska, adding 600 jobs over the year. Local government, including public school employment, grew by 500 jobs, but state government employment decreased by 100, according to the report.

Alaska’s Gulf Coast region saw the most employment growth at 3.7% while the interior region grew the least by slightly 0.5%, DOLWD said.