The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports that March’s jobs count increased 2.3% compared to March 2021. It was an increase of 6,800 jobs but still 11,900 below the same month in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The leisure and hospitality sector had 2,700 more jobs than last March but still 2,800 fewer than March 2019. The trade, transportation and utilities sector was up by 2,200 jobs over the year and down 100 from 2019. Oil and gas had 7,200 total jobs, which was 500 above levels a year ago, but 2,900 below the same month before the pandemic.
Local government was up by 700 jobs over the year but down 2,100 from March 2019, mainly in public education. State government employment fell 500 below last year’s level and 1,400 short of 2019. Most public schools and university campuses have operated in person this school year after a remote 2020-2021, resulting in higher employment. Total state government, however, fell over the year with the phase-out of temporary COVID-19 pandemic-related positions. Federal employment was down 100 from March 2021 and was slightly higher than its prepandemic level.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.0% in March. The comparable U.S. rate declined to 3.6%. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.4%, down from 7.0% from the prior month and down from 9.4% in March 2021.