...rate was 7.0 percent in May, while the national rate was 8.2 percent, each called "essentially unchanged" by Neil Fried, Labor Department economist. May's rates are well below the rates of a year ago, Fried said, with Alaska's rate...

...month, but over the last year a slow improvement shows the national rate down half a percentage point. State economist Neil Fried said that while the national rate was improving, it's been a slow process. It peaked at more than 10 percent two...

...on the list of the 100 largest private employers in Alaska, according to the state Labor Department. State economist Neil Fried said Wal-Mart's work force in Alaska grew to more than 3,000 employees last year by expanding into grocery-selling...

...percent. Alaska's unemployment rate is approaching two years below the national level, said state labor economist Neil Fried. At the same time, the local Juneau unemployment rate, which is not seasonally adjusted, climbed to 5.5 percent...

...from October of 2009 as the city's rate was 6.2 percent then, while the state's was 8 percent. State economist Neil Fried said the increase in unemployment this time of year is to be expected. "This is typical in October, when Alaska's...

...unemployment rate was well below the state as a whole, which in turn was below the national average. State Economist Neil Fried said it was the 12th consecutive month the state's unemployment rate was below the nation's. The poor national economy...

...8.5 percent in March to 8.4 percent in April, but remaining above April 2009's 7.7 percent. Labor economist Neil Fried called the slight improvement "a positive sign for the state's job market." The national unemployment rate increased...

...that Alaska is doing better than the average in the country, or better than most states," said state labor economist Neil Fried. The strength of the oil business, where prices have over the last year stayed over $70 a barrel, and sometimes topped...

...highest unemployment rate was in Skagway, at 26.0 percent, followed by the Denali Borough. State Labor Economist Neil Fried noted that those two communities are highly dependent on tourism, which leads to dramatic seasonal swings. Other Southeast...

...Alaska's fishing and visitor industries are mobilizing a workforce for three to four months of hyperactivity," said Neil Fried, state economist. Unemployment rates elsewhere in Southeast generally improved as well, falling from 8.1 percent...