April Jobs Up 2.2 Percent From April 2021

May 20, 2022
No. 22-7

JUNEAU, Alaska — April employment was 2.2 percent above April 2021, an increase of 6,700 jobs but still 11,800 below the same month in 2019, the year before the pandemic started.

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 state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in April, the same as the revised March rate. The comparable U.S. rate remained 3.6 percent.

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