December 2024

Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Alaska Employment Snapshot

• In December, Alaska added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 7,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Alaska is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Alaska’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Alaska fell by 62, and over the past 12 months it fell by 601.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.9 percent in December from 65 percent and ranks 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Alaska Payroll Employment

• Alaska added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,700 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Alaska is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,900 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Alaska ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Leisure and Hospitality (500) and Education and Health Services (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (3,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Government (-1,100).

Alaska Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Alaska fell to 64.9 percent in December from 65 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 17th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 67.1 percent occurring in January 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.