Alaska Employment: Job Count Rises by 0.8% in August, Unemployment Rate Steady
Photo Credit: FUNTAP P | DREAMSTIME
The total job count in Alaska went down from July to August, but unemployment held steady. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development puts the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August at 4.7 percent, a slight decrease from July but in line with every other month this year.
Few Fluctuations All Year
The statewide unemployment rate in July was 4.8 percent, but the streak of 4.7 percent has been running all year, since the 4.6 percent rate in December 2024. The national rate ticked up slightly from 4.2 percent in July to 4.3 percent in August.
The unadjusted unemployment rate in the Anchorage/Mat-Su Region dropped from 4.1 percent in July to 3.5 percent in August, pulled lower by the 3.3 percent rate in the Municipality of Anchorage. No other region saw month-to-month increases, and only the Northern Region—encompassing the Nome Census Area, Northwest Arctic Borough, and North Slope Borough—ended up higher than a year ago, at 7 percent.
Several sectors saw year-over-year job losses. Financial activities and wholesale employment were both flat from July to August, at 11,000 and 6,500 workers respectively, but both counted 100 fewer jobs than in August 2024. Retail was down by 100 compared to a month earlier and a year earlier, at 36,000. And the leisure and hospitality sector was down by 100 jobs compared to August 2024 but 200 fewer than in July 2025.
The biggest percentage loss was in the information sector, counting the same 4,100 jobs in August as in July, but down by 300 from a year earlier, or 6.8 percent.
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January 2026
Further losses in the government sector held total nonfarm employment to 0.8 percent growth year over year. Although the 355,900 in August were lower than the 359,600 jobs in July, they represent a gain of 2,900 from a year earlier. Private sector jobs grew by 1.1 percent, but federal and local government employment each shrank by 100 and 200 jobs, respectively, which excludes uniformed military and public schools.
The biggest percentage gain in job totals was in oil and gas at 6 percent. Although steady at 8,800 month to month, the sector gained 500 jobs since August 2024. Manufacturing is also relatively strong with 5.7 percent growth. Driven mainly by seafood processing, the sector had been struggling, but it gained 900 jobs compared to August 2024, even though the 16,600 was a wind-down from the 21,400 employed the month before.
Construction was up by 4.8 percent, adding 100 jobs month to month but 1,000 year over year.
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We’re honored again this year to celebrate our partnership with Junior Achievement of Alaska, a nonprofit that educates local youth about enterprise, business, money, and financial literacy. In the special section, three Junior Achievement of Alaska students weigh in on their experience with the exceptional volunteers and teachers involved with the program.
And in Industry Support, we explore the range of varied services that industry in Alaska requires, from mancamps to spill response to off-grid energy solutions.
Outside the special sections, make sure to check out the 2026 Economic forecast, where Alaska leaders share their insights on what may lie ahead in the coming year. Enjoy!