State labor officials say the number of jobs in Alaska in January rose by 1,800 from that month a year ago, while the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.0 percent. The comparable national rate was 3.6 percent.
According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development none of those figures reflect the impact of the coronavirus situation. In Alaska through March 14, there were no actual cases of coronavirus. One was reported, but medical tests later showed that the pilot for a foreign cargo company had actually tested negative.
For the 16th consecutive month, Alaska added jobs, after losses for 36 months from late 2015 through late 2019. Growth has been mild, averaging just over 0.6 percent, compared with job growth nationally over those 16 months averaging 1.4 percent.
Regional job growth was strongest in the northern region, primarily in the oil and gas industry.
