How many jobs were lost in Alaska last month?
Refreshed monthly
Alaska lost 300 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 27th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 490 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-300
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
27th
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
Alaska’s job loss of 300 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 200 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Alaska gained jobs in 40 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the 14th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in June 2023 (+4,200) while job growth was weakest in October 2023 (-1,700).
There were 300 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Alaska than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Alaska sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were non-durable goods, administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, and transportation, warehousing, and utilities. Non-durable goods added 600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services gained 400 jobs, while transportation, warehousing, and utilities added 100 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were construction, state government, and local government. Construction lost 600 jobs in September 2026, while state government lost 400 jobs and local government lost 300 jobs.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 100 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Alaska (September 2026)
How has Alaska's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Alaska gained an average of 17 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 533, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 13th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 508 on average every month in 2016 to a gain of 692 on average every month in 2023.
In 2025, Alaska gained an average of 17 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among two metro areas primarily in Alaska during September 2026 ranged from a loss of 400 jobs in the Anchorage, AK area to a loss of 200 jobs in the Fairbanks, AK area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Alaska
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | -200 | |
| 2. | -400 |
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
