September Trends profiles the lesser known history and economy of the North Slope: the people who live and work there. Also this month is a report on what happened to the laid-off workers after Kmart shut its doors in Alaska 13 years ago. Finally, the series we began a year ago on the ‘80s recession continues this month with a look at how specific industries crashed and recovered during those years.
Tag: DOLWD
The Arctic Circle may be more than 400 miles north, but Seward has become an Arctic port
SEWARD — In this picturesque Alaska port town more than 400 miles south of the Arctic Circle, two big symbols of U.S. Arctic ambition loomed over the harbor.
Docked side by side, both preparing to head north, were the cutter Healy, the only polar-class U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker working in the Arctic, and the Crystal Serenity, the huge luxury cruise ship destined for an unprecedented journey through newly ice-sparse waters of the Northwest Passage over the top of Canada. Both ships’ paths converged in Seward, a tourist destination, fishing center and recreation hub that is emerging as a support center and port for Arctic marine and science activities.
Read the full article here.
Source: ADN – The Arctic Circle may be more than 400 miles north, but Seward has become an Arctic port.
Workforce Wednesday: Looking at the Future of Alaska’s Job Market
Have you always known what you wanted to do with your career, or do you want to switch it up but don’t know where to start? Are you worried about job stability in the state?
Neal Fried, economist for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Cari-Ann Carty with the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium (APICC), noted there are a few careers that will grow with you and the economy.
The big industries are mining and healthcare, but there are also jobs in the maritime sector, the two said. An able-bodied seaman can make up to $65,000 a year after six months on the job, Carty noted. She said the Alaska Vocational Training Center, or AVTEC, in Seward offers a course to prepare for that career’s exam.
Fried said it’s important that Alaskans not get discouraged about the state economy in the news.
“It’s a rich job market. There’s always opportunities,” he said, adding there are many resources available to job seekers.
State of Alaska websites for job seekers
Watch the Workforce Wednesday video here. Learn more by visiting the APICC website.
Alaska Economic Trends – August 2016
August Trends provides the results of our yearly rental survey, with information on average rents and vacancy rates around the state. Also this month, we look at the first-ever release of data on Alaskans’ personal consumption spending, and profile the vast and diverse Valdez-Cordova Census Area.
Source: Alaska Department of Labor – Alaska Economic Trends: August 2016
July Alaska Economic Trends
July is the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development’s annual cost-of-living issue, which looks at the change in costs here over time as well as how we compare to other places. Inflation was minor in 2015, mainly due to the continuing drop in energy prices.
UA Workforce Development News 