Alaska experiences the most dramatic seasonal employment swings of any state in the country, according to newly released data from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The report shows that the gap between the state’s lowest and highest employment months reaches 14%, representing an annual shift of about 43,900 jobs. By comparison, the next highest state, Montana, sees a swing of just 6%.
.webp)
Much of Alaska’s seasonal fluctuation is driven by industries that surge during the summer months—particularly tourism, seafood processing, and construction. These sectors bring waves of temporary workers into communities across the state, significantly reshaping local labor markets for several months each year.
State economist Dan Robinson said these seasonal industries have an outsized impact on Alaska’s economy.
“There's some big economic activity that occurs seasonally, that just really blows things up in the summer,” he said.
According to the Alaska Economic Trends analysis, the state’s seasonal variation, although still the highest in the nation, has declined significantly over the decades. During the 1970s—when the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was under construction and the oil boom fueled explosive growth—the seasonal employment gap exceeded 40%, more than double the current level. Since the early 1990s, that volatility has remained relatively steady, even as Alaska’s economy has diversified.
The areas with the most extreme swings today are typically smaller, rural communities tied closely to single industries. The Bristol Bay Borough, home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, demonstrates the most dramatic example. Employment there increases from fewer than 500 jobs in winter to almost 4,000 in summer—an astounding jump of more than 667%.
“They're small enough to not have very big industries elsewhere, the support type industries,” Robinson said. “They're interesting and unusual for rural areas in the country because either fishing or tourism are massive draws.”
.jpg)
Communities such as the Denali Borough and Skagway also rely heavily on seasonal tourism, leading to sharp summer peaks in employment. On the other end of the spectrum, Anchorage—with its more stable year-round economy—sees the smallest seasonal change at 6%, matching Montana’s statewide rate.
The report also links Alaska’s large seasonal shifts to its uniquely high gross migration rate, which measures the number of people moving in and out of the state. Between 1990 and 2018, Alaska’s gross migration rate reached 12.8%, the highest in the nation. This mobility reflects both the pull of seasonal work and the challenge of retaining new arrivals.
Robinson noted that roughly one in five workers leave before establishing residency.
“There are things that excite people to come here, both as a tourist and then to live here. The possibility of living here is kind of a big adventure, but we also have strong push factors,” he said.
Those push factors, he added, include long winters, limited entertainment options, and the overall challenges of life in a remote northern environment—factors that can make it difficult for newcomers to stay.
Despite these challenges, Alaska’s seasonal industries continue to draw thousands of workers each year, shaping the economic rhythms of communities across the state and reinforcing what makes Alaska distinct from the rest of the country.
Originally reported by Ava White in Alaska Public.
