From the August 19, 2011 press release: "Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July was 7.7 percent, up slightly from June’s revised rate of 7.5 percent. The comparable national rate was 9.1 percent.
"The unemployment rates for Alaska and the nation are both lower than they were a year ago, but neither rate has changed much during 2011. The state’s jobless rate is still above its 10-year average of 7.1 percent, although it remains considerably healthier than the national rate.
"The contrast between Alaska and the nation is even more pronounced in terms of jobs. Although employment in the nation began to recover in 2010 and has continued to improve modestly this year, the July employment number of 130.9 million puts the nation at 2004’s level — that means the U.S. has a long way to go in making up those job losses.
"In Alaska, 2011 represents an all-time high, with July employment at 355,100. Employment in Alaska has grown every year since 1988, with one exception: 2009, the tail end of the national recession. Employment declined by a four-tenths of a percent that year, but Alaska made up those small losses promptly in 2010 — then surpassed them.
"The not seasonally adjusted jobless rates fell in every region in the state in July, as July is probably the top month for economic and labor force activity in Alaska. Construction, seafood processing, and the visitor industry hit or approach their peak this time of year. Six areas’ rates were below 5 percent; the lowest was Bristol Bay at 1.1 percent. Eight areas had double digit unemployment rates, with Wade Hampton Census Area the highest at 24.6 percent. Wade Hampton’s unemployment rate has topped 20 percent in five of the past 10 years."
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