Unemployment rate creeping up

WASILLA — The unemployment rate in the Mat-Su Borough is almost 2 percentage points higher than where it was this time last year, but local job seekers do have somewhere to turn.

In November, 9.8 percent of the workforce was unemployed in the Mat-Su, up from 7.9 percent a year earlier.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported the numbers Friday. Statewide, the rate was 8.5 percent, up from 6.8 percent in November of 2008.

Both the Mat-Su and statewide rates were below the national average of an even 10 percent.

Construction and seafood processing took the biggest hit across the state, based on the year-to-year comparison. The only reported fields to show growth were education, health services and government.

Locally, these numbers mean more than 4,100 borough residents are looking for a job out of a civilian labor force of more than 42,000. Asked if she has noticed an increase in demand at the Mat-Su Job Center, manager Tamika Ledbetter said absolutely.

“Most of the people who come to the Job Center are in some way looking for employment or better employment,” Ledbetter said. “Average, we are seeing 500 people a week.”

Once at the center, Ledbetter said job seekers get help with their résumés, cover letters and interview skills. Using money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the center’s goal is to get people hired.

“We have a focus right now. We are assisting people who are receiving unemployment insurance benefits, assisting them with enhancing their employability skills and offering information about job training opportunities, if needed,” Ledbetter said.

Ledbetter said the center also has access to the Alaska Labor Exchange System, known as ALEXsys. ALEXsys is a job database of current openings in both the public and private sectors broken down by region of the state. Ledbetter said it currently has postings for everything from trades work to non-profit workers.

“It changes everyday. It depends on what employers have posted. I encourage people to check every single day,” she said. “And if you are looking for work, you want to be one of the first people to apply.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.