Business/Economy

Alaska unemployment unchanged for third month

Alaska's unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 6.4 percent for a third month in a row in November, remaining above the national rate, according to the state's labor department.

The seasonally adjusted rate was the same in September and October, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development said in a Friday release. The comparable national rate was 5 percent, also the same from the previous month.

"Alaska's jobless rate has been relatively steady through most of 2015," the labor department said. "The unemployment rate is just one of several indicators of the economy's health, but the flat trend suggests sustained low oil prices have not yet taken a significant toll."

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose in all but three of the state's boroughs and census areas, from 6.1 percent to 6.4 percent -- which is a typical seasonal increase, according to the labor department.

The largest increases were in rural areas -- Skagway, the Denali Borough and the Kusilvak Census Area -- while urban unemployment rates were below the statewide average.

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