Alaska Progress Report

Alaska ranks very low for oil and gas development

The Fraser Institute released its annual Global Petroleum Survey, which ranks 136 "jurisdictions" or places across the globe according to their "investment barriers," defined as, "high tax rates, costly regulatory schemes, and security threats." Alaska apparently is in the toilet:

"Alaska also remained in the third quintile but dropped in the global rankings from 68th position (of 133) to 83rd position (of 136) due to poorer scores on a number of issues including fiscal terms, environmental regulation, the cost of regulatory compliance, uncertainty around the interpretation of regulations, uncertainties about protected areas, and native land claims."

What's worrisome is that eight of the top ten slots went to other US states, topped by Mississippi.

1,857 Alaskan kids in foster care

The Alaska Office of Children's Services has a new video out promoting foster care. OCS is required to track statistics and posts updates monthly on another page. There are about 1,200 Alaskan kids in foster care in an average month. The May 15 report breaks out a total of 1,857 children in placement by region within the state as of April 1:

• Northern region, 330 children, 18% of total.
• Anchorage region, 626, 34%.
• Southeast, 179, 10%.
• Southcentral, 528, 28%.
• Western, 210, 11%.

An annual report details the substantiated allegations that land kids in foster care. In 2010 there were 2,871 unique victims of at least one substantiated allegation of harm. There were a total of 4,655 substantiated allegations, 75% of which were neglect, 14% mental injury, 8% physical abuse and 3% sexual abuse.

May unemployment flat at 7.4 percent

From the Department of Labor: "Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 7.4 percent, up slightly from April’s unchanged rate of 7.3 percent. The comparable national rate in May was 9.1 percent, up from the revised rate of 9.0 percent in April.

"The unemployment rates for Alaska and the U.S both remain below year-ago levels. During the past two months, the national jobless rate raised concern as it trended slightly upward. However, 39 states reported rate decreases in April, the latest data available for individual states. Alaska’s jobless numbers remain better than average compared to the U.S. and to many other states. In April, 34 states had higher unemployment rates than Alaska, 13 had lower rates, and two were identical. Nevada’s rate was highest at 12.5 percent, and 3.3 percent in North Dakota was the lowest. Alaska’s relatively healthy job market likely means more new job seekers, which puts some pressure on the state’s jobless rate.

"The not seasonally adjusted jobless rates were mixed around Alaska. In four of the six regions, unemployment fell as employment and economic activity followed their usual seasonal upswing. In the Denali Borough, home to Denali Park, preparation for summer visitors dropped the jobless rate from 16.2 percent in April, one of the highest in the state, to 6.2 percent in May, one of the lowest. In Bristol Bay, the rate fell from 9.2 percent in April to 2.9 percent in May — the lowest in the state — as workers prepared to harvest and process fi sh for one of the world’s largest salmon fisheries.The highest jobless rate was 21 percent in the Aleutians East Borough, where some groundfish seasons ended."

Alaska credit delinquencies low, balances high

From Transunion: Alaska has the third lowest rate of mortgage delinquencies, the second lowest rate of credit card delinquencies, and is in the lowest 20% for auto loan delinquencies in the first quarter of 2011:

• 60 day mortgage loan delinquency rate: Alaska's rate is 2.73% versus a national rate of 6.19%.
• 90 day bankcard delinquency rate: Alaska's rate is 0.46% versus a national rate of 0.74%.
• 60 day auto loan delinquency rate: Alaska's rate is 0.41% versus a national rate of 0.59%.

Alaska had the second steepest increase in its auto inquiry index, 50%. Alaska also remains the state with the highest average credit card debt, at $6,811 far ahead of number two North Carolina at $5,446. Nationally credit card delinquencies are at a 15 year low.

Alaska goes from B to A grade on children's dental health

From the Alaska Department of Health: "Alaska is one of seven states receiving an “A” on the children’s dental health report card from the Pew Center on the States — up from a “B” in the previous Pew report in February 2010.

The PEW Center on the States today released its updated state report card on policies related to children’s oral health. One reason for the improved grade in Alaska is the recent Medicaid program reimbursement of trained medical providers for preventive dental services for young children as part of their well child exams. Children from lower income families are typically at higher risk for development of dental decay."