April’s job count was up by 6,100, or 2.0 percent, from April 2022.
All Alaska industries grew or remained flat over the year. The two sectors that gained the most jobs were the two hit hardest by pandemic losses. Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 1,900 and transportation, warehousing and utilities added 1,000. Both have exceeded pre-pandemic job levels.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates, dropped from 5.0 in March to 4.5 in April 2023.
The public sector added jobs over the year, led by federal government (+500). Local government, which includes public schools, was up by 400 jobs and state government by 100 jobs.
Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in April and the comparable U.S. rate was 3.4 percent.
