July’s job numbers were 3% above July 2021, an increase of 9,900 jobs with a tourism season comparable to pre-pandemic numbers, including the return of large cruise ships. Overall, the state’s job count remained 14,100 below July 2019, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The growth from over this past year was strongest in the leisure and hospitality industry. It’s the sector that captures much of the state’s tourism-related activity. It had 3,800 more jobs than last July, but its employment remained 3,700 below July 2019.
Oil and gas increased by 600 jobs than last July, for a total of 7,500. Oil and gas employment remained below pre-COVID highs, though. In July 2019, the state had 10,100 oil and gas jobs. Growth over this past year also was strong in wholesale trade and transportation.
There were, however, three job sectors of the state that had less jobs than last year. They included state government, which was down 700, manufacturing, down by 300, and information which was down 100.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5% in July, down one-tenth of a percentage point from June. The comparable U.S. rate was 3.5%. For the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the unemployment rate for last month was 4.6%, down from 6.3% in July 2021.