A sign advertising job openings is seen at the Soldotna Post Office on June 27, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Clarion file)

A sign advertising job openings is seen at the Soldotna Post Office on June 27, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Region sees some economic recovery; job numbers still lag overall

The Kenai Peninsula reported 500 more jobs in November 2021 compared to November 2020.

Alaska had about 7,200 more jobs in November than during the same time in 2020, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced last week. Most of the gains were seen in the leisure and hospitality industry, which had about 3,200 more jobs this November than last — a 12.9% increase.

When compared to data from November 2019, however, most industries still reported losses. In all, Alaska lost about 13,100 jobs when November 2021 is compared to November 2019. Despite seeing gains over the last year, the leisure and hospitality industry lost about 3,700 jobs. The oil and gas industry lost about 3,100 jobs and local governments lost about 2,200 jobs between November 2019 and November 2021.

The same report showed that the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s unemployment rate — not seasonally adjusted — changed from 7.9% in November 2020, to 6.1% in October 2021, to 6.5% last month, according to preliminary data. The same data showed that the Gulf Coast Region’s unemployment rate went from 7.5% in November 2020, to 6.1% in October 2021, to 6.7% in November 2021.

The Gulf Coast region, which includes the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the Kodiak Island Borough and the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, lagged behind other regions in Alaska for regional job change. The Kenai Peninsula reported 500 more jobs in November 2021 compared to November 2020.

That is compared to Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna region, which reported 5,300 more jobs in November 2021 compared to November 2020 and the Interior and Southeast regions, which both reported 1,000 more jobs in November 2021 than in November 2020.

Multiple businesses across the central Kenai Peninsula reported struggling with worker shortages in spring of 2021. As of May 2021, more than $1.2 billion in federal and state COVID-19 relief benefits have been granted to Alaskans since March of 2020, according to previous Clarion reporting.

The state-specific Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, showed that Alaska lost about 38,800 jobs in April of 2020, the “largest monthly loss on record,” as reported by the department of labor in the December 2021 issue of Alaska Economic Trends.

“Despite these numbers’ severity, they aren’t a surprise during a pandemic,” the article said. “A lack of job openings usually signals a weak labor market where employment is falling or stagnant and unemployment is high, which was true as COVID-19 took hold last spring.”

The Alaska Department of Labor’s full report can be found on the agency’s website at labor.alaska.gov.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Evan Frisk calls for full-time staffing of the Central Emergency Services’ Kasilof station during a meeting of the CES Joint Operational Service Area Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kasilof residents ask for full staffing at fire station

Public testimony centered repeatedly on the possible wait times for an ambulance

The southbound lane of Homer Spit Road, which was damaged by the Nov. 16 storm surge, is temporarily repaired with gravel and reopened on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Homer’s Spit road reopened to 2 lanes

Repairs and reinforcement against erosion will continue through December

The under-construction Soldotna Field House stands in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We’re really moving along’

Officials give field house updates at Soldotna City Council meeting

Kenai Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elodi Frisk delivers Thanksgiving meals to seniors during the Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Kenai Senior Center banquet hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Giving thanks together

Seniors gather for annual Hilcorp Areawide Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point man indicted for 3 shootings at Homer family planning clinic, recovery center

The grand jury returned 12 counts total for the three shootings

The entrance to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is barricaded on Overland Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Citing dangerous drivers, Kenai closes one entrance to visitor’s center

The barricade will be removed temporarily on Friday for Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Food bank seeks turkey donations as Thanksgiving nears

The local food bank is calling for donations of $25 to “Adopt-A-Turkey” for a local family in need

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward budget hearing covers bed tax, wages, emergency medical services

The Seward City Council on Nov. 12 considered a series of legislative items connected to 2025 and 2026 budget

The results of ranked choice tabulation show Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, winning reelection in the race for Senate District D. (Screenshot/Gavel Alaska)
Bjorkman, Vance win reelection after tabulation of ranked choice ballots

An effort to repeal ranked choice voting and the open primary system was very narrowly defeated

Most Read