Alaska's job numbers rose slightly during the first three months of 2015, compared to the same period last year, according to new data released by the state.
Employment rose about 1 percent each month from January through March, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, with the three-month average for employment at 326,087 jobs.
Alaska's economists are following job numbers closely, as they are the most reliable statistic available for determining whether the economy is in a slowdown.
In the oil and gas industry, a major economic sector, jobs rose by more than 5 percent in January and nearly 4 percent in February and March over the same time period a year ago.
Total wage growth, not adjusted for inflation, was 3.75 percent statewide and 5.59 percent in the oil and gas industry.