In the June issue of Alaska Trends, the State of Alaska Department of Labor analyzed Alaska's leisure and hospitality industry. Jobs in that industry - which includes accommodations, bars, restaurants, and recreation businesses - grew just under 1% in 2010, to about 31,500 jobs. For years, the industry grew at an annual rate of 2%, but growth slowed dramatically in 2008 and the industry lost jobs in 2009. This sector provides goods and services not only to visitors, but to residents; McDonalds is the top employer, with Taco Bell, Subway, Pizza Hut, the Bear's Tooth and the Moose's Tooth restaurants all in the top 20.
Leisure and Hospitality is the second most seasonal Alaska industry. This seasonality contributes to the industry's position as the lowest wage private industry in Alaska, with average annual wages just under $20,000.
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