Alaska is not in a recession. Perhaps by some skewed definition of manipulated labor statistics, Mr. Fried can make this claim. It seems more like a coordinated effort to "scare" Alaskans into a fix-- taxes, raiding our  PFD or increasing the capital budgets to sustain the construction industry. 

Second, if there is a recession, it's Dept. of Labor's fault. Alaska's union-centric labor laws kill jobs. Minimum wage increases; the lack of "day labor" provisions; strict regulations militating against "contract labor"; favorable unemployment benefits--the list of disincentives to hire and to work are endless. 

Finally, compare the number of people declared "unemployed" or collecting unemployment benefits to the number of people seeking work--registered with DOL as "eligible for or seeking work". There's ZERO correlation. There is NO REQUIREMENT in law requiring a person seeking benefits to apply for a job that's open and available.