Employment
Sitka's labor force is highly educated and considered to be industrious, creative and independent minded. Sitkans are also well connected to the Internet with DSL and cable modem services utilizing a new fiberoptic connection to the lower 48.
Sitka is fortunate to be able to embrace and nurture several economic engines which make it the most diversified economy in Alaska: healthcare, education, tourism, government, and seafood processing. Sitka is best known for the quality, quantity and variety of seafood harvested in Sitka waters and processed by four major fish processing companies. In 2009, Sitka ranked as the 9th largest port in the United States for the ex-vessel value of seafood harvested.
Looking for a job? See the links to key employers at the bottom of this page.
Labor and Employment
Sitka has one of the region's most diversified economies. Health care (16.8%), seafood (12.8%), government (15.3%), and services (14.3%) provide the highest percentage of local employment. According to Juneau-based economic consultants, the McDowell Group, with this well-balanced economy Sitka has compensated to some degree for economic hardship brought on by declining basic industries, particularly forest products that once supported Sitka's economy.
Sitka's labor force is well educated. Based on 2000 Census Data, 90.6% of the population aged 25 or older are high school graduates while 29.5% have bachelors degree or higher. Over 33% of the employed civilian labor force are holding management, professional, and related occupations while 22.1% are in sales and office occupations.The labor force is most typically under-employed with educated and skilled labor working in jobs unrelated to their expertise. Typical skills categories include medical, metal fabrication, commercial fishing and commercial fish processing, and tourism related.
Sitka's labor force averages about 4,300 employed with an unemployment rate of 3.5% to 4.0% during the summer season and 7% to 8% in the winter season. Labor shortages typically occur in the tourist season of May through September for jobs in the $10 or less per hour. For positions paying from $12 to $15 per hour, or more, the labor force is plentiful.
Average Total Labor Force 2010 = 4,684
Average Unemployment Rate 2010 = 6.3%
Alaska minimum wage is $7.75 per hour
Major Employers (2010 data)
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) = 482
Sitka School District = 250
US Coast Guard = 209
City and Borough of Sitka = 179
Sitka Community Hospital = 176
Mt. Edgecumbe High School = 154
Hames Corporation = 150
Sitka Tribe of Alaska = 134
Sitka Pioneers' Home = 105
University of Alaska Southeast = 87
Alaska Commercial Company/Lakeside Grocery = 75
US Forest Service = 75 (down from 109 in 2006)
Westmark Hotels Inc. = 50
Alaska Airlines Inc. = 47
Sitka Sound Seafoods = Winter 50 / Peak 350
Silver Bay Seafoods = Winter 25 / Peak 220
Seafood Producers Cooperative = Winter 25 / Peak 120
Looking for a job? Click on the highlighted links above to go to the listed employer's website jobs page. OR search Alaska's job bank using ALEXsys
* Numbers are based on average monthly employment (full-time, part-time, and temporary)
Soure: Payroll/Human Resource Manager of the listed employer.
