Unemployment rate in Alaska.

• Author: Spohn, Kari
• Position: Alaska Trends for December 2006

Alaska trends, an outline of significant statewide, is provided by the University of Alaska center for economic development and sponsored by American fast freight.

Alaska's unemployment rate decreased gradually over the last year from 5.8 percent in August 2005 to 5.5 percent in August of this year. The rest of the United States also experienced a significant decrease, but one of slightly greater magnitude. The unemployment rate for the United States in August 2005 was 5.2 percent, which decreased to 4.6 percent in August 2006.

Examining Alaska's unemployment rate over a month's time indicates a noteworthy decrease as well, from 6.3 percent in July to 5.5 percent in August of this year. The unemployment rate for the United States also decreased significantly over a month's time: the rate for July of this year was at 5 percent, while the rate for August was 4.6 percent.

Alaska's two largest regions are perhaps responsible for this decrease. Anchorage's unemployment rate, while holding steady on a yearly basis, decreased from 5.7 percent in July to 5 percent in August of this year. Fairbanks also experienced a notable decrease in the unemployment rate from July at 5.6 percent to August at 4.8 percent. Fairbanks' unemployment rate decreased from 5.1 percent in August 2005 to 4.8 percent in August 2006. All things considered, during the past year, the unemployment rate experienced momentous changes on both national and state levels.

ALASKA TRENDS FOR DECEMBER 2006 SPONSORED BY AMERICAN FAST FREIGHT Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income--Alaska Millions of $ 2ndQ06 Personal Income--United States Millions of $ 2ndQ06 Consumer Prices--Anchorage 1982-1984 = 100 1stH06 Consumer Prices--United States 1982-1984 = 100 1stH06 Bankruptcies Alaska Total Number Filed August Alaska Business Only Number Filed August Anchorage Total Number Filed August Anchorage Business Only Number Filed August Fairbanks Total Number Filed August Fairbanks Business Only Number Filed August EMPLOYMENT Alaska Thousands August Anchorage Thousands August Fairbanks Thousands August Southeast Thousands August Gulf Coast Thousands August Sectoral Distribution--Alaska Total Nonfarm Wage & Salary Thousands July Goods-Producing Thousands July Service-Providing Thousands July Natural Resources & Mining Thousands July Logging Thousands July Mining Thousands July Oil & Gas Extraction Thousands July Construction Thousands July Manufacturing Thousands July Wood Products Manufacturing Thousands July Seafood Processing Thousands July Trade/Transportation/Utilities Thousands July Wholesale Trade Thousands July Retail Trade...