Alaska has emerged as the state with the highest seasonal employment fluctuations in the United States, according to recent data from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The disparity between the peak and lowest employment months reaches approximately 14%, translating to a difference of around 43,900 jobs. This significant gap far surpasses that of any other state, with Montana coming in second at just 6%.
The seasonal employment landscape in Alaska is heavily influenced by industries such as construction, tourism, and seafood processing. These sectors experience substantial increases in workforce numbers during the summer months, leading to a notable uptick in economic activity. State economist Dan Robinson emphasized the scale of this seasonal shift, stating, “There’s some big economic activity that occurs seasonally that just really blows things up in the summer.”
Alaska’s current employment seasonality has seen a noticeable decline compared to the past. In the 1970s, the difference between the highest and lowest employment months exceeded 40%, largely due to the construction boom associated with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Since then, the state’s employment fluctuations have stabilized, particularly since the early 1990s.
Rural Areas Face Dramatic Employment Changes
Some of the most pronounced seasonal employment differences are observed in Alaska’s rural communities. For instance, in the Bristol Bay Borough, job numbers can surge from just under 500 in the off-season to nearly 4,000 during the peak summer months, marking an astonishing increase of over 667%. Robinson pointed out that these areas often lack large, diverse industries, making them heavily reliant on fishing and tourism.
Other regions, like the Denali Borough and Skagway, also exhibit extreme seasonality due to their tourism-based economies. In contrast, the city of Anchorage experiences the smallest employment swings in the state, with fluctuations around 6%.
The report further highlights the link between seasonal employment variations and Alaska’s gross migration rate—the highest in the nation. Between 1990 and 2018, the state saw significant movement of people, driven by both the allure of adventure and the strong push factors that lead residents to seek opportunities elsewhere. Robinson noted the dual appeal: “There are things that excite people to come here, both as a tourist and then to live here.”
As Alaska continues to navigate its unique economic landscape, the stark contrasts in seasonal employment will likely remain a defining characteristic of the state’s workforce dynamics.
