Southeast Alaska is experiencing an economic comeback. Business leaders are reporting the best business climate since business climate surveying began. In 2022 jobs were up by 5%, and wages were up by 11%. Seafood – the top private sector industry in 2022 – had its most valuable catch since 2014, and the region’s value-added seafood products garnered record profits. Tourism brought 1.16 million more visitors to the region in 2022 than in 2021. As tourism jobs flooded back, visitor-dependent communities saw massive job returns. Jobs in Skagway increased by 41%, while job increases in Hoonah and Gustavus were above 20%.
Employment was up across nearly every sector. Tourism, government, healthcare, retail, construction, professional & business services, and transportation sectors all added workers to their payrolls. Mining and Tribal Government grew by 12% each. Substantial federal investments paved the way for development or rehabilitation of roads, bridges, airports, broadband, harbors, and recreational facilities, generating jobs and much needed community improvements.
