Nonresident Hire In Alaska Declines In 2000

Jan. 31, 2002
No. 02-06

Labor Department Reports Nonresidents at Lowest Level Since 1988

he Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development today released its annual report, "Nonresidents Working in Alaska--2000," which shows the smallest percent of nonresident workers in Alaska since 1988.

In 2000, nonresident workers comprised 17.9% of all workers in Alaska, a large decrease from the peak year of 1992 when 78,000 nonresidents made up nearly 24 percent of all workers in the state.

The department reports that a total of 64,988 nonresident wage and salary workers were employed at some time in Alaska in 2000, virtually unchanged from 1999 with an increase of only 160 nonresident workers.

The report also shows:

--An increase in total nonresident earnings of over $53 million from 1999 to 2000, and an increase in resident earnings of $389 million.

--Nonresidents earned about 10.3% (or $901.8 million) of total wage and salary earnings in the private sector, state and local government jobs.

--Continuing improvement in resident hire in the food processing industry despite a loss of 1,439 workers.

--A total of 17.4% of all construction workers were nonresident in 2000, a small increase from 1999, but still a large drop from the 1994 peak when 25 percent of all construction workers were nonresident. Nearly 11 percent of total earnings were paid to nonresidents, less the private sector average.

--After three years of improvement, nonresident hire in Alaska's oil industry increased to 27.5% in 2000.

--An increase in total earnings paid to nonresidents in the oil industry from $153 million in 1999 to $189 million in 2000.

--The highest percent of nonresident workers is found in the Southwest Region, primarily the Aleutians East and Bristol Bay Boroughs, and Aleutians West and Lake and Peninsula Census areas, workers engaged mostly in seafood processing. Other areas with a high percentage of nonresident workers include Yakutat, Skagway/Hoonah/Angoon, Denali Borough and Kodiak Island Borough.

"Nonresidents Working in Alaska" is available online.

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