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Alaska’s unemployment rate rose
slightly to 5.8 percent in August, an increase of one-tenth of a
percentage point. The comparable national rate fell three-tenths of a
percentage point to 5.7 percent. Dan Robinson, a labor economist with
the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, reported the
numbers.
Typically, Alaska’s unemployment rate falls slightly in August as
seasonal employment is near its peak and the number of unemployed
persons reaches its yearly low point.
Anchorage’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to
4.4 percent. Fairbanks saw its rate drop one-tenth of a percentage
point in August to 4.7 percent. Juneau saw similar movement, with a
decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.
Anchorage’s rate is seven-tenths of a percentage higher than in August
2001; unemployment rates for Fairbanks and Juneau are slightly higher
than they were a year ago.
Other areas of the state generally showed small increases in their
unemployment rates. After a large drop last month, Kodiak’s rate
bounced from 4.4 percent to 7.6 percent in August as a result of
strong seasonality in the fishing industry. Despite the increase,
Kodiak’s rate remains below its year-ago level. The high and low rates
for the state were once again the Wade Hampton Census Area at 20.6
percent and the Aleutians East Borough at 2.6 percent.
Preliminary wage and salary employment estimates for August indicate
that the state added approximately 600 jobs over the month. The
estimates also show an over-the-year increase of about 2,500 jobs. The
construction industry has added approximately 700 jobs since August
2001, a healthy increase of 3.7 percent. The service and retail trade
industries also continue to add jobs at a modest rate, while
manufacturing and mining remain down over the year.
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