Employment for the month of April was 2.2% above April 2021 levels, an increase of 6,700 jobs, but still 11,800 below the same month in 2019, the year before the pandemic began.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the leisure and hospitality sector had 3,900 more jobs than last April, but 1,100 fewer than April 2019. The transportation, warehousing and utilities sector was up 900 jobs over the year and down 600 from 2019. Oil and gas had 7,200 total jobs – 500 above year-ago levels and 2,700 below 2019.
Local government was up by 900 jobs over the year but down 1,800 from April 2019, mainly in public education. State government employment fell 900 below last year’s level and 1,700 short of 2019. Most public schools and university campuses operated in person this school year after a remote 2020-2021, resulting in higher employment, but total state government employment fell over the year with the phase out of temporary pandemic-related positions. Federal employment was flat over the year and 500 above 2019.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month was 5.8%, down from 6.2% the month prior and down from 8.5% the same time last year. Alaska’s unemployment rate was 4.9% in April, the same as the revised March rate. The comparable U.S. rate remained at 3.6%.