Industrial employment in Alaska increased 5 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2008 Alaska Manufacturers Directory, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. MNI reports Alaska gained 1,555 industrial jobs from March 2007 to March 2008 – contrary to the steep industrial employment losses experienced by the rest of the U.S.
"Growing worldwide demand for products produced in Alaska, particularly metal goods, petroleum and coal products, made 2007 a strong year for exports," says MNI president Tom Dubin. "Japan, China and South Korea are some of the state's largest markets, and these exports help Alaska retain manufacturing jobs in the face of layoffs throughout much of the rest of the country."
The industrial directory reports Alaska is home to 947 manufacturers employing 32,952 workers. MNI profiles manufacturers of all sizes including small, start-up companies.
According to MNI, food manufacturing accounts for 32 percent of the state's industrial jobs or 10,659 jobs, up 4.5 percent, or 478 jobs, over the past 12 months. Fish processing/canning accounts for 93 percent of the state's food manufacturing jobs, up 515 jobs, or 5.5 percent, over the year. Another 13 percent of Alaska's industrial jobs are in oil & gas extraction, up 621 jobs (17.5 percent) in the past 12 months. Employment in petroleum and coal products processing represents 3,776 of the state's industrial jobs, up 24 percent, or 720 workers, in the past 12 months. The industrial machinery and equipment sector accounts for 4,684 of Alaska's industrial jobs, up 2 percent since March 2007.
Other sectors gaining jobs include printing and publishing, up 2.2 percent, while losses were seen in fabricated metal products, down 12 percent. MNI reports employment in the lumber and wood sector held steady over the year.
According to MNI, 58 percent of the state's industrial jobs are located in South Central Alaska, with this region also posting the majority of the state's gains. Jobs in Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island represent 19,264 jobs, up 1,289 jobs (7.2 percent) in the past 12 months. A year ago MNI reported jobs in this region were down 3.6 percent between the 2006 and 2007 period. Anchorage alone accounts for 47 percent of the state's industrial employment or 15,436 jobs, up 9.7 percent over the year.
The Aleutian Islands represent 2,747 of the state's industrial jobs, up 12.4 percent in 2007, while Fairbanks North Star is home to 1,877 jobs, down 5.6 percent. Dutch Harbor accounts for 2,133 jobs, up 16 percent over the past 12 months. The oil-rich North Slope region is home to 13 manufacturers employing 1,019, while Prudhoe Bay is home to 966 industrial jobs, up 1.6 percent in 2007.