Employment declined 1.6 percent in Anchorage Municipality, the only large county equivalent in Alaska, from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Alaska employment decreased 1.3 percent over the year to 320,100 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the rate of employment growth in Anchorage Municipality ranked 336th among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.

Employment in Anchorage Municipality stood at 145,100 in March 2026, accounting for 45.3 percent of total employment in Alaska. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)

The average weekly wage in Anchorage Municipality increased 5.3 percent over the year to $1,579. The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year. Anchorage Municipality’s weekly wage ranked 104th nationally, and the percent change ranked 56th among the largest U.S. counties.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.8 percent over the year to $1,519. Alaska ranked 18th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 6th in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 small county equivalents in Alaska, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 25 of the 29 smaller county equivalents were below the national average. North Slope Borough reported the highest average weekly wage ($3,069) in the state. Kusilvak Census Area and Lake and Peninsula Borough reported the lowest average weekly wage ($837).

Among all 30 Alaska county equivalents, 5 reported average weekly wages less than $1,075, 7 had wages from $1,075 to $1,224, 6 had wages from $1,225 to $1,374, 5 had wages from $1,375 to $1,524, and 7 had average weekly wages of $1,525 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)