Continuing on the Recovery Summer and Stimulus: State by State, we head to Alaska.
Quick Alaska facts:
- In January of 2009, the unemployment rate in Alaska was 7.1%. As of July 31, 2010, the unemployment rate was 7.7% (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- According to Recovery.gov, Alaska has received only 2,555 awards. This has resulted in $1,949,471,693 being spent to create/save 2,710.53* jobs (Source: Recovery.gov)
- As of July 2010, the labor force in Alaska increased by 4,130 people since January of 2009. While the labor force has increased, the unemployment rate has also increased. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- According to the Recovery Summer Map, Alaska boasts zero “Summer of Recovery” projects!
- The number of people employed in Alaska has increased by 1,593 people since January of 2009. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- The Obama administration projected the change in jobs by December 31, 2010 to be +8,000 jobs. To date, Alaska has increased jobs by 4,700. (Source: Ways & Means Republicans)
The employment trend in Alaska is better than most states. While the trend in 2009 was downward, 2010 has seen an astronomical upward trend that has started to come back to Earth by mid-summer of 2010. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Alaska has received nearly $2 billion in “stimulus” monies. While most states with a similar sized population received much less, Alaska has been sustaining its employment situation on government life support. Alaska is also one of the most heavily subsidized states in the union. Further, even while the employment rate is up, the unemployment rate has also increased.
Read more on Recovery Summer and the Stimulus Effects on States.
*: The number of jobs created/saved conflicts with other government sources on Recovery.gov. This number was pulled from the latest figured offered on Recovery.gov