Southeast Alaska Economic Plan
Southeast Alaska’s economy is strong. In 2023 jobs were up by 3% and wages have been growing at faster than the rate of inflation. Tourism jobs flooded back, growing by 26%, an increase of 1,700 year-round-equivalent jobs. Tourism workers earned $105 million more than the year before.
The region’s fishermen brought in the largest catch in more than a decade, but with a catch value $66 million less than the smaller catch from the year before, as global drivers fueled low seafood prices.
The government, healthcare, retail, construction, finance, and mining sectors all added workers to their payrolls. Tribal government grew by 9%. Regional GDP was up by 31%. However, State jobs continued to decline, social services were down, along with professional & business services. Population and school enrollment declined.
In 2024, Southeast business leaders are mostly optimistic. The regional economy has finally fully recovered from the pandemic. The construction industry is responding to $334 million in infrastructure bill investments in Southeast. Inflation has dropped to 1.5%. Tourism is having another strong year as 1.675 million cruise passengers are expected to visit.
While jobs continue to grow, so do concerns about the lack of a sufficient workforce in the region.
The Southeast Alaska 2030 Economic Plan is currently being developed
2025 Southeast Alaska Economic Plan Appendix
- Southeast Alaska by the Numbers (2012 to 2020)
- Southeast Alaska Business Climate Survey Analysis 2021
- Analysis of Southeast Alaska’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats 2020
- Southeast Alaska Resilience Mapping Weatherizing for the Economic Storm 2021
- Getting to 2022 Short-Term Southeast Alaska Resilience Plan
- Summary of Southeast Alaska Opportunity Zones 2021
- Summary of Southeast Alaska Disaster Recovery Plans 2021
- Summary of Additional Southeast Alaska Economic Plans
- Solid Waste Management Alternatives 2021
- Southeast Alaska Health Care Workforce Analysis December 2019
- Southeast Conference Board of Directors and Membership Roster
- Event Presentations
- Midsession Summit Committee Reports
- Southeast Conference Board of Directors Resolutions
- Prior Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 5 Year Plan & Updates (2006-2020)
- Southeast Alaska Economic Development Plans
Midsession Summit Committee Reports
- Transportation CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Energy CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Seafood CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Tourism CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Timber CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Mining MSS CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Health Care CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- Solid Waste CEDS SWOT and Initiatives
- CEDS Mid Session Summit updated
- Getting to 2022 Short-Term Southeast Alaska Resilience Plan updated Feb 15
- 2025 Action Initiatives updated Feb 16
- Brett Schwartz, NADO Associate Director – Putting CEDS in Perspective
- Shirley Kelly, Alaska Economic Development Representative – CEDS in Action in Alaska