JUNEAU, Alaska—Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rate was 6.4 percent in November, unchanged from September and October. The comparable national rate was 5.0 percent, also the same as October.
Alaska’s jobless rate has been relatively steady through most of 2015. The unemployment rate is just one of several indicators of the economy’s health, but the flat trend suggests sustained low oil prices have not yet taken a significant toll.
The not-seasonally adjusted rate rose from 6.1 percent in October to 6.4 percent in November, a typical seasonal increase. Rates rose in all but three boroughs and census areas. The largest increase was in the Denali Borough, where the rate rose 7.7 percentage points from October to November. Denali Borough had the third highest rate at 17.2 percent, behind Kusilvak Census area at 19.4 percent and Skagway at 20.7 percent.
Urban rates were lower than the statewide average. Juneau’s rate was 4.7 percent, followed by Anchorage at 4.9 percent and Fairbanks North Star Borough at 5.5 percent. Five other boroughs and census areas also fell below average, including Aleutians West Census Area, which had the lowest rate in the state at 3.8 percent.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]
