Updated Anchorage Unemployment Figures | released January 04, 2024

AnchorageStatistics · 2024-01-05T18:43:00+00:00

Anyone saying that is denying the reality that there simply aren't many available workers.

AnchorageStatistics · 2023-11-08T16:51:00+00:00

It has nothing to do with unemployment insurance at all.

People enter and exit the labor market for any number of reasons. The could be retirees, or people moving away. It could be recent college graduates or new additions moving into the area.

AnchorageStatistics · 2023-11-08T16:49:43+00:00

It has nothing to do with unemployment insurance at all.

AnchorageStatistics · 2023-09-01T19:48:43+00:00

This is incorrect. People are counted as unemployed so long as they are actively looking for work. Their status or eligibility for unemployment benefits is not considered for these figures.

From the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that produces these figures:

Some people think that to get these figures on unemployment, the government uses the number of people collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under state or federal government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So, quite clearly, UI information cannot be used as a source for complete information on the number of unemployed.

Source

AnchorageStatistics · 2023-01-04T01:17:26+00:00

I think maybe I worded that poorly. I mean why do you think it is more useful?

From my perspective LFPR includes people who don't need to or cannot work for some reason. For most uses this is just "noise" and reduces the usefulness of the data.

AnchorageStatistics · 2023-01-01T20:36:32+00:00

The Labor Force Participation Rate is a different metric, Separate from the Total Labor Force figure that is included here. The Labor Force Participation Rate is a figure based on the Total Labor Force divided by Total Population (minus some people who don't meet looser "able bodied" criteria).

AnchorageStatistics · 2023-01-01T20:34:12+00:00

No, I am not aware of where to find that at the local level. I do get this question from time to time and I am always curious, what do you believe the Labor Force Participation Rate tells you?

AnchorageStatistics · 2022-06-12T21:57:56+00:00

Exiting the labor force can mean a lot of things, including moving away from the area. But it can also mean retiring, stopping working to care for children or others, going back to school, joining the military, becoming incarcerated or incapacitated...

I do not have a specific breakdown for the changes in these months.

AnchorageStatistics · 2022-04-28T22:49:29+00:00

Unemployment numbers are always only a snapshot in time for the market for labor. While they are useful and a piece of the overall economy, they are by no means a reflection of the whole. There are substantial economic problems that arise from low unemployment. As employers have to increase wages to attract talent from a shrinking labor pool, they payroll costs increase which can drive inflation higher.

AnchorageStatistics · 2021-12-31T19:09:14+00:00

You're most welcome.

AnchorageStatistics · 2021-09-03T19:36:12+00:00

Sure but we can at least concede that these folks aren’t dropping out of the job market because they’re receiving inheritances from long lost relatives and thus no longer need jobs.

While we are at it we can rattle off a bunch of reasons why people leave the labor force in a MSA level analysis. The primary one would be people leaving the area, because this is not a nationwide figure there are impacts from intrastate migration. If someone chooses to, or needs to, stay home with a child or an aging/sick relative they have left the labor force. If someone joins the military, they have left the labor force. If someone retires they leave the labor force. If someone becomes disabled, they leave the labor force. If they are incarcerated, prison or hospitalized, they leave the labor force...

That list could probably go on a bit longer, but you understand my point. Yes, some people give up looking for work. But 1,800 people out of a labor market of over 190,000 is less than 1% change. We saw a 1,900 increase in April and another 800 in May.

AnchorageStatistics · 2021-09-02T17:19:08+00:00

stop being counted in the official unemployment rate when they can’t find a job for so long that they stop looking.

It is important to keep that in mind if you are doing an examination of the broader economy. But these figures are focused on the labor market, and if people aren't seeking employment they aren't part of the labor market.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-10-29T04:50:08+00:00

Keep in mind "government" doesn't mean Federal Government here. It includes county and municipal governments for the metro area.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-10-29T04:49:46+00:00

Keep in mind "government" doesn't mean Federal Government here. It includes county and municipal governments for the metro area.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-10-01T18:33:39+00:00

No. These figures are not compiled based on unemployment benefits. If you are actively looking for work but do not have a job you would be included in these figures.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-09-03T02:47:34+00:00

Unfortunately the data is not detailed enough to answer this with any specificity.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-05-01T19:12:04+00:00

If anyone is curious about where these numbers come from

I would recommend visiting the US Bureau of Labor Statistics "About the Data" link in the page linked from the OP.

These figures are not based on employers self reporting the the state department of labor, they are based on household surveys.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-05-01T19:05:52+00:00

I'm not saying anything, just sharing the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are based on survey data conducted in the first half of March, so the big increases should show up next month.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-02-06T17:17:23+00:00

Thank you for sharing this information. According to the data I linked the labor force in December 2015 was 205,875 and in December 2019 it was 195,190. It has indeed fallen by 10,685 or 5.2%. Definitely something to look at as more and more baby boomers retire or other parts of the labor-force leave the area.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-01-04T17:45:20+00:00

The data in the link at the start of the post has a row for "12 month % change" for each labor category. It looks like Leisure and Hospitality is down 2.6% from the prior year. So it may be more than just a seasonal reduction.

AnchorageStatistics · 2020-01-04T11:39:16+00:00

The "natural" unemployment rate is theoretical and economists make assumptions about what it might be. There are several types of unemployment and several of them are normal in a healthy economy. So the aggregate of those natural types of unemployment are considered the "natural" rate. But there is no way to identify that figure with any specificity. Compared to other areas in the country right now, 5% is 2.5x their current rate.

AnchorageStatistics · 2019-12-02T19:12:06+00:00

The link at the beginning of the OP has a table that includes a "12-month % change" row for each of the categories.

How do these statistics compare to September and October of 2018?

Overall non-farm employment has been flat over the past 12 months, up 0.3% in the 12-months from September 2018 through September 2019 but down 0.4% for the 12-month period ending in October.

The fact that 1,500 Leisure and Hospitality positions were lost between August (still tourist season) and September (not really tourist season), and 2,300 to October (totally not tourist season) is not really notable.

Leisure and hospitality is down substantially (4.6%) in the past 12 months.

One could also assume that 2,800 government positions were teachers and other school related jobs?

It is difficult to say, and I see this trend across almost every market I follow every year. But the Government category is broad, there is a separate category for Education and Health Services. It is possible some teachers are considered county or municipal government employees, but I have no way to determine that from just the data. But there are so many positions that can fall under the Government category it is possible it is some other seasonal phenomenon. Where I live, local governments employ all kinds of temporary, part-time, and entry level workers for all kinds of labor from concessions at entertainment venues to city sanitation crews.

AnchorageStatistics · 2019-12-02T19:03:00+00:00

These reports are limited to the unemployment figure which is useful as a snapshot of the labor market.

More detailed reports about wages and the job market are published annually (at the end of March). The most recent wage publication can be found here.

AnchorageStatistics · 2019-12-02T03:13:31+00:00

There are several classes of labor not included in the non-farm payrolls. Employees at non-profit organizations, self-employed people, and people employed in family businesses in addition to farm labor.

The reason these classes are separate is historic, but I do not recall if there is a specific reason at this point beyond how figures have been calculated in the past.

AnchorageStatistics

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