In December, Sitka City and Borough reported an unemployment rate of 3.5%, positioning it at the bottom of Alaska’s rankings at #30. This rate is 0.2 percentage points below the national average and 1.0 percentage points below the state average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, national unemployment rates have stabilized around 3.5% to 4% over the past two years, mirroring pre-COVID levels. The national unemployment peaked at 14.7% in April 2020 due to the pandemic and remained high until late 2021.
An analysis by Stacker, utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that while national unemployment figures have largely normalized, local economic conditions across the U.S. vary significantly. For example, Sitka City and Borough, with its current unemployment rate, ranks behind Juneau City and Borough which reported a 3.6% rate. It currently has the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
Currently, around 149 of the borough’s approximately 4,275 working residents are unemployed. This figure has increased by 18 compared to the previous month and by 41 from the same period last year. Economists are concerned that another recession could be looming, potentially escalating unemployment rates due to business shutdowns and increased layoffs.