February Alaska Economic Trends

February Trends examines the major role of the federal government in Alaska’s economy: funding, jobs, and how the federal influence has changed over time. Also this month is an overview of the “other” unemployment rate – the insured unemployment rate or IUR – which measures only the unemployed workers who actually apply for benefits. Finally, Trends looks at poverty rates and how they are measured. These federal thresholds, which apply to all states regardless of the cost of living, paint a picture that varies greatly across Alaska and among demographic groups.

http://labor.alaska.gov/trends/feb12.pdf