Juneau’s unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent in April, the lowest in the state.
The Juneau, Alaska and U.S. unemployment rates improved compared to April and the previous March, as the economy continues to strengthen both nationally and locally, said Mali Abrahamson, economist with the Department of Labor & Workforce Development’s Research and Analysis Section.
Alaska’s unemployment rate is now down to pre-recession levels, she said. While the U.S. rate had declined “gradually but consistently” in recent months, it still remains above pre-recession levels.
Juneau’s rate continues to do well, dropping during the month to 4.8 percent in April from 5.3 percent in March. It was also below the 5.3 percent last April, as the Juneau workforce expanded and the jobless number declined.
Still, Juneau’s lead in low unemployment rates is also due to good timing. Fishing areas that lead the state during peak seasons are now in a slower period, while tourist areas such as Skagway and Denali Borough have yet to reach their employment peaks.
Alaskans non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell across the state as summer fishing, seafood processing, tourism and construction jobs geared up for the summer.
Rates in all regions but Southwest Alaska fell during the month.
In Southeast, rates fell in every community except Wrangell, where they increased from 8.3 percent in March to 9.6 percent in April.
Other rates were 5.6 percent in Sitka, 7.2 percent in Ketchikan, 9.1 percent in Yakutat, 9.2 percent in Haines, 9.4 percent in Petersburg, 15.0 percent in Prince of Wales Island, 15.4 percent in Skagway, and 20 percent in Hoonah-Angoon.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or at patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
Comments (8)
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yep you can go to work for $9.00 an hour .................. Could it be that unemployment has run out for most ?
irony
And the irony of those unemployment checks, is that they are TAXED at the self-employment rate, even though they are really benefits from an insurance fund!
If I wreck my car, and I have insurance, I get a check for the wrecked car, and that check is not taxed.
So why are unemployment benefits taxed if those benefits come from an insurance fund where the unemployed person paid part of the monthly premium?
If anyone needs a tax break, it's the unemployed people. But, we're too busy giving tax breaks to the rich, and to oil companies who apparently need them more.
1%.
And.....
Before unemployment 2010 65,000 a year
new job 2012 22,300 a year
sure I have a job....just not adequate even with as much OT as I can get
Sorry folks it's not as rosy as it sounds
Unemployment benefits:
Unemployment benefits are a substitute to a normal paycheck you receive when you have a job; they are considered part of your income. And therefore are taxable. The money is not taxed at the time it was drawn from your check. It is also taxed at the rate where you fell in the tax table at the time it was withdrawn.
Are you sure about that Milly?
I'm not sure your correct.
The way I understood it, when I am employed, myself and my employer both pay into an insurance fund in the event I became unemployed. But, if I never became unemployed, I never saw that money again.
Just like car insurance. If I don't wreck my car I'll never see that money again.
But assuming you are right, if I make, $50,000 in one year and am taxed at 15%, then I am unemployed the entire following year earning $12,000 per year in unemployment benefits, how the hell is that fair that I should be taxed at the amount I previously earned as opposed to the amount I am currently 'earning' with unemployment benefits?
If anyone needs a tax break, it is unemployed people. Those benefits should not be taxed at all. They are benefits paid by insurance.
in part Jo....
this link may help explain the Alaska unemployment insurance Trust Fund >> http://economicinfo.org/?p=217
Confused:
I agree that the unemployed needs as many breaks as they can get. Also, why not lower taxes on the middle and upper class of workers. As another poster stated in some other JE article fuel here in Juneau is $4.62 gallon which of course is going to affect everything else, heating fuel, food etc.: I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse.
Drill through this Gov site and all your questions will be answered. Be prepared to be confused.
http://www.irs.gov/index.html
Regardless, this article is
Regardless, this article is saying that in Juneau, we have more people working then the rest of the state. Percentage wise that is. It's a good thing. Why you all have to dig to see the bad in every article?
I don't care why, but a small unemployment rate is a good thing, period. If anything, be upset and complain about the other towns like wrangell or pow for having HORRIBLE unemployment rates.