Southeast Alaska by the Numbers 2023

Southeast Alaska is experiencing an economic comeback. Business leaders are reporting the best business climate since business climate surveying began. In 2022 jobs were up by 5%, and wages were up by 11%. Seafood – the top private sector industry in 2022 – had its most valuable catch since 2014, and the region’s value-added seafood products garnered record profits.  Tourism brought 1.16 million more visitors to the region in 2022 than in 2021. As tourism jobs flooded back, visitor-dependent communities saw massive job returns. Jobs in Skagway increased by 41%, while job increases in Hoonah and Gustavus were above 20%.
Employment was up across nearly every sector. Tourism, government, healthcare, retail, construction, professional & business services, and transportation sectors all added workers to their payrolls. Mining and Tribal Government grew by 12% each. Substantial federal investments paved the way for development or rehabilitation of roads, bridges, airports, broadband, harbors, and recreational facilities, generating jobs and much needed community improvements.