Alaska's private sector added 2,200 jobs in a year as federal jobs fell nearly 9%

Alaska's private employers added 2,200 jobs over the past year, but government lost 1,900, most of them federal, leaving the state with just 300 more jobs in September than a year earlier, the state labor department reported Oct. 16.

The federal government had 13,900 civilian jobs in Alaska, down 1,300, or nearly 9%, from a year before, according to the department's data tables. State government, including the University of Alaska, lost 400 jobs, and local government, including public schools, lost 200.

On the private side, transportation, warehousing and utilities added the most, 900. Construction added 600, and oil and gas added 400. Professional and business services lost 200.

That left Alaska with 347,000 jobs. In August, the state counted 900 fewer jobs than a year before, Alaska News reported.

Alaska's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3%, the same as in August and down from 4.7% a year earlier, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.