Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – February’s statewide job count was up by 8,200, or 2.6 percent, from February 2023.
Construction added 1,900 jobs, with North Slope oil activity strongly contributing to the growth. Health care added 1,600 jobs, with the largest gain in outpatient care. The transportation, warehousing and utilities sector added 1,300 jobs (primarily in transportation), and the mining sector, which includes the oil and gas industry, was up by 1,200.
Most Alaska industries grew, but the information sector was flat while manufacturing was down by 300 jobs and leisure and hospitality by 400.
Local government, up 700 jobs, led public-sector job growth followed by state government, which includes public universities (up 500). Federal government added 200 jobs over the year.
Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in February and the U.S. rate was 3.9 percent.