Alaska March jobs report shows positive increases

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – The Alaska Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development released the March jobs report on April 19, which reflected a strong increase in all job sectors except retail which was flat.

Compared to March 2023, there has been a 2.8% increase statewide which equates to 8,900 jobs. Activity on the north slope helped the construction sector add 2,400 jobs last month which was the largest growth of any sector. Health care and transportation both added 1,300 jobs plus another 1,200 jobs in mining and logging.

Retail employment remained flat while manufacturing saw a loss of 100 jobs and the leisure and hospitality sector saw further decreases, losing 200 jobs along with the information sector.

The public employment sector saw increases with local government, up 600 jobs while federal and state added 400 jobs.

Despite the overall job growth, the unemployment rate was 4.6% which is much higher than the national 3.8%.

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