JUNEAU, Alaska— Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in September, down slightly from August’s 6.6 percent. The comparable national rate was 5.1 percent.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has not shown a clear, sustained trend up or down in 2015. Despite looming economic challenges, the rate does not indicate that the broader economy had been noticeably affected through September.
Alaska’s not-seasonally adjusted rate began its annual autumnal climb, from August’s 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent in September, as summer activity winds down.
Around the state, unadjusted rates increased in 21 out of 29 boroughs and census areas. The largest increases were in the Bristol Bay Borough and Dillingham Census Area, where rates climbed by 2.1 and 2.5 percentage points, respectively. These areas typically have large seasonal swings because of their dependence on summer salmon fisheries.
The highest unemployment rate in September was in the Kusilvak Census Area at 19.5 percent. The lowest was in the Aleutians West Census Area at 2.9 percent.
For detailed employment estimates, see https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/ces/. The estimates are preliminary and subject to potentially large revisions.
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