Alaskanomics

Leaning Into Anchorage’s Future: An in-depth session with Roger Brooks

Destination development expert Roger Brooks was the keynote speaker at the recent AEDC 2022 3-Year Outlook Luncheon. At the luncheon, Brooks delivered a brief overview of how Anchorage could be made more attractive to visitors and potential workers. He went into more detail at a follow up event, the recording of which is posted below. View the presentation slides here.

July jobs up 3.0 percent from July 2021

Aug. 19, 2022
No. 22-12

JUNEAU, Alaska — July job numbers were 3.0 percent above July 2021, an increase of 9,900 jobs with a more typical tourism season and the return of large cruise ships. Overall, the state’s job count remained 14,100 below July 2019.

Over-the-year growth was strongest in leisure and hospitality, the sector that captures much of the state’s tourism-related activity. The sector had 3,800 more jobs than last July, but its employment remained 3,700 below July 2019.

Oil and gas had 600 more jobs than last July, for a total of 7,500. Oil and gas employment remained well below pre-COVID highs, though. In July 2019, the state had 10,100 oil and gas jobs. Over-the-year growth was also strong in wholesale trade and transportation.

Three sectors had fewer jobs than last year. State government was down 700, followed by manufacturing (-300) and information (-100).

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in July, down one-tenth of a percentage point from June. The comparable U.S. rate was 3.5 percent.

View data tables and charts (PDF)

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Labor force data home page

AEDC 3-Year Outlook Luncheon

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) hosted its annual 3-Year Outlook luncheon on Wednesday. The event was in-person and featured updates from Mayor Bronson, UA President Pat Pitney, AEDC President and CEO Bill Popp, and Keynote speaker Roger Brooks.

The tone of this year’s event was more optimistic than pervious luncheons. Popp noted that AEDC is “very optimistic” on the jobs forecast and believes that Anchorage is poised to gain back jobs lost during 2020 and 2021. There are challenges on the horizon but the future is promising for Anchorage.

The 2022 AEDC Three-Year Outlook Report, sponsored by Northrim Bank, offers a look at back at the past few years and a forecast through 2025. Areas include population, labor force, employment, personal income, Anchorage International Airport, Port of Alaska, building permits, new housing units, visitor industry and oil and gas. 

The Anchorage Consumer Optimism Index, Real-Time Jobs Intelligence report, and Anchorage Employment report are on AEDC’s website. The reports provide further insight into the outlook report. A series of videos will be available the second week of August and will highlight more of the forecast for the coming years in Anchorage.