What is the unemployment rate in right now?

Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in Alaska was at 4.4% in June 2026. That's a 0.2 percentage point decrease from the month before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In June 2026,

4.4%

of the labor force was unemployed in Alaska
June 2026 had a

-0.2

percentage point change from the previous month
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the unemployment rate through a monthly survey to identify the civilian labor force, meaning people who are employed or actively seeking work. It counts part-time workers as employed. It excludes people who aren’t actively looking for work, such as retirees or discouraged workers.

In June 2026, the unemployment rate in Alaska was higher than the US overall.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to June 2026

Unemployment rates differ within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas or in places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.

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What counties in Alaska have the highest and lowest unemployment?

In Alaska, Kusilvak Census Area, AK had the highest unemployment rate at 16.1%. Denali Borough, AK had the lowest at 2.5%. Anchorage Borough, AK, the county with the largest labor force in the state, had an unemployment rate of 4.7%. The latest county-level data is from May 2026.

Unemployment rates in Alaska counties ranged from 2.5% to 16.1% in May 2026.

Unemployment rate, by county, not seasonally adjusted

Unemployment rate, by county in Alaska (May 2026)

Unemployment rate, by county in Alaska (May 2026)
1.

Kusilvak Census Area, AK

16.1%
2.

Bethel Census Area, AK

10.1%
3.

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

9.4%
4.

Northwest Arctic Borough, AK

8.8%
5.

Nome Census Area, AK

8.3%
6.

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK

7.5%
7.

Dillingham Census Area, AK

7.3%
8.

Copper River Census Area, AK

7.2%
9.

Haines Borough, AK

7.1%
10.

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK

6.7%

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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.