Alaska Labor Department: May unemployment rate falls to 8.3 percent, lowest level in 8 months

Alaska’s jobless rate falls to 8.3 percent in May

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska’s unemployment level in May fell to its lowest level in 8 months, 8.3 percent, with seasonal tourism and construction jobs contributing to the dip.

It’s still higher than a year earlier, when unemployment for the month stood at 7.8 percent. But the state Labor Department notes that since December, when unemployment was at 8.6 percent, Alaska’s rate has begun nudging downward. It was stuck at 8.5 percent from January through March.

Nationally, in May, unemployment stood at 9.7 percent.

The figures are seasonally adjusted.