How many jobs were lost in Alaska last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
Alaska gained 200 jobs in January 2026, ranking it 43rd 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 488 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+200
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
43rd
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
January 2026's gain of 200 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Alaska. Monthly job growth was down from the 300 new jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Alaska gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. May 2021 had the 24th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in June 2023 (+4,200) while job growth was weakest in May 2021 (-3,900).
There were 200 more jobs in January 2026 in Alaska than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Alaska sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Alaska gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. May 2021 had the 24th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in June 2023 (+4,200) while job growth was weakest in May 2021 (-3,900).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were construction, retail trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Construction added 500 jobs, more than the entire economy. Retail trade gained 300 jobs, while professional, scientific, and technical services added 200. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector lost 100 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Alaska (January 2026)
How does Alaska's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has lost an average of 117 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 742, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as sixth-lowest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 533 on average every month in 2022 to a gain of 742 on average every month in 2024.
In 2025, Alaska lost an average of 117 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among two metro areas at least partially in Alaska during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 200 jobs in the Anchorage, AK area to a gain of 0 jobs in the Fairbanks, AK area metro area.
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
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.
