United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Alaska Employment Snapshot
In May, Alaska added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 11,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Alaska is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Alaska’s private sector added 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 800 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Alaska fell by 177, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,436.
Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.9 percent in May from 65 percent and is tied for 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Alaska Payroll Employment
Alaska added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alaska added 300 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Alaska is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Alaska added 800 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alaska added 800 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Alaska ranks 1st 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 May were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (500) and Construction (300).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-100) and Financial Activities tied with Other Services (-200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (3,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-200) and Information (-400).
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 May from 65 percent in the prior month.
Alaska is tied for 16th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 67.6 percent occurring in June 2014, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.