The State of Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April was 6.6 percent, which is above the national rate of 5 percent, but steady for Alaska since October.
According to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the unadjusted jobless rate in April was 6.9 percent. That’s a drop from the statewide March unemployment rate of 7.3.
In the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the unadjusted jobless rate was slightly higher than the state average. According to state data, the borough’s April rate was 7.1 percent. That’s almost identical to last year at this time, and better than previous years going back to 2010.
State data shows the Ketchikan Gateway Borough has a labor force of about 6,500. About 450 of those people are unemployed.
According to the state, April job losses throughout Alaska totaled about 2,500 compared to last year, driven by declines in the oil and gas industry, and state government employment.
Employment levels in construction, and professional and business services also shrank. Statewide job losses were partially offset by employment growth in the health care and retail sectors.
