Unemployment in Alaska stood at 6.5 percent in January, compared to the national rate of those looking for work, which rose from 3.9 percent to 4.0 percent for the first month of 2019.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development noted that employment rose an estimated 0.2 percent, or 500 jobs, from January 2018.
The construction industry added the largest number of jobs over the year, 800, followed by 400 in health care. State government added 300 jobs; oil and gas 200; the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector 200, and local government, 100.
Manufacturing employees dropped by 500, while professional and business services lost 400 jobs, retail lost 300 and the federal government 200 jobs. Positions were also down by 100 jobs in the information sector and financial activities.
