Department of Numbers

Anchorage, Alaska Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Anchorage rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the Alaska rate. The unemployment rate in Anchorage peaked in April 2020 at 12.4% and is now 8.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Anchorage unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Alaska 4.4% +0.1 +0.7
Anchorage 3.9% +0.1 +0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Anchorage, Alaska, National

Anchorage, Alaska monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Anchorage, Alaska Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Anchorage peaked in May 2020 at 24,026. There are now 16,160 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,471 in March 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,395. Anchorage employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Anchorage, Alaska) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Anchorage 7,866 +137 +1,297

Number of Unemployed Persons

Anchorage, Alaska Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Alaska
Unemployment Rate
Anchorage
Unemployment Rate
Anchorage
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.4% 3.9% 7,866
October
2023
3.8% 4.3% 3.8% 7,729
September
2023
3.8% 4.1% 3.7% 7,499
August
2023
3.8% 3.9% 3.5% 7,188
July
2023
3.5% 3.8% 3.4% 6,913
June
2023
3.6% 3.7% 3.3% 6,719
May
2023
3.7% 3.6% 3.2% 6,561
April
2023
3.4% 3.7% 3.2% 6,492
March
2023
3.5% 3.7% 3.2% 6,471
February
2023
3.6% 3.8% 3.3% 6,573
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.2% 6,562

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.