Business/Economy

Alaska unemployment up slightly in April

The state says jobs grew in all regions from March to April except in Southwest, bumping the unemployment rate up two-tenths of a percentage point to 6.7 percent.

A recent dip and recovery in the seasonally adjusted rate make it difficult to identify trends, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

But April is typically the first month of the year with substantial seasonal job growth, according to the labor department.

Alaska's unemployment rate continues to exceed the national rate, which was 5.4 percent in April.

The decrease in employment among the Aleutian Chain communities was attributed to winter fisheries in the Bering Sea winding down.

Compared with last year's April rate, statewide employment was relatively flat due to regional job fluctuation, the state reported.

Interior Alaska's jobs were down compared to the same month last year, driven by losses in state government. Federal government employment was up, though.

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April employment in Anchorage was down slightly from the previous year but due to private sector losses rather than government losses, according to DOL.

See the state's report for a full regional breakdown.

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