From the Department of Labor: "Alaska's seasonably adjusted unemployment rate for March was 7.4 percent, down from February’s revised rate of 7.6 percent. The comparable national rate in March was 8.8 percent, a slight decrease from the revised rate of 8.9 percent in February. The Alaska and U.S. rates for March both came in below year-ago levels, and both have trended downward for many months.
"The peak jobless rate for the nation was 10.1 percent in October of 2009, and Alaska’s unemployment hit 8.2 percent during the last three months of 2009 and the fi rst three months of 2010. As of March, Alaska’s jobless rate has been lower than the nation’s for 28 months in a row. However, the difference between the two has narrowed in recent months. Both rates are still above average, but show an improving labor market for job seekers.
"The not-seasonally adjusted jobless rates around the state either did not change or fell slightly in March, which is typical of this time of year. While rates declined slightly in four Alaska regions and held steady in the remaining three in March, all regional rates are below year-ago levels. By April or May, unemployment rates will probably begin to fall as the busy summer season begins."
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