Alaska Job Count Falls by 2,100 as July Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.3%
Updated
Updated · Alaska Business · Aug 25
Alaska Job Count Falls by 2,100 as July Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.3%
2 articles · Updated · Alaska Business · Aug 25
Summary
357,900 nonfarm jobs were recorded in Alaska in July, up from 353,700 in June but 2,100 below a year earlier, extending the state's 0.6% annual employment contraction.
Government payroll losses drove the decline even as unemployment eased to 4.3% from 4.4% in June and private-sector hiring stayed slightly positive.
71,300 government jobs in July were down from 73,600 a year earlier, with state employment off 1,000 jobs and federal employment down 1,300, an 8.5% drop.
Private-sector growth was thin: oil and gas added 800 jobs year over year, but manufacturing lost 1,000, construction 700, professional services 500 and retail 300.
A separate state workforce study said major projects led by Alaska LNG could require 6,600 pipeline workers plus 2,000 more on other projects, exceeding current labor and training capacity.