Total Wages Up 4.0 Percent in the First Half of 2019 from Prior Year
JUNEAU—Newly released data for the first half of 2019 show total wages up $355 million from the first half of 2018, with increases in all of Alaska’s major industries and sectors. The 4.0 percent wage growth exceeded inflation, which was 2.6 percent over the period.
Private sector wages grew 4.8 percent overall. Construction wages increased 11.9 percent while oil and gas increased 7.0 percent. Health care wages grew 5.5 percent.
Government wages were also up across the board. Federal wages increased by 1.3 percent, state government wages by 2.0 percent and local government (including public schools and tribal government) by 2.4 percent.
Total wages increased in 23 of the 29 boroughs and census areas. Wages grew by 3.3 percent in Anchorage, 3.2 percent in Fairbanks and 0.5 percent in Juneau. Recovery in the oil and gas industry boosted North Slope Borough wages by a whopping 11.6 percent.
Wages in Haines increased the most at 14.5 percent, driven by increased construction work. Mat-Su’s wage growth was second at 9.6 percent, followed by Nome at 9.3 percent and Yakutat at 9.5 percent.
For more info, click here to view tables from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Current Issue
April 2026
Alaska Business Sweeps Awards for Magazine Feature Writing, Wins for Best Cover and Headlines
Alaska Business nets six Alaska Press Club awards for work in 2025, including a sweep of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place by Senior Editor Scott Rhode for Best Magazine Feature.
Alaska Employment: Job Growth Doubles in February, Unemployment Rate Flat at 4.7%
Unemployment in Alaska fell to 4.7 percent in February while government job cuts held overall employment growth in 2025 to 0.2 percent.
Small Offices, Mixed Shop/Office, and Large Leases in Demand in Mat-Su
The Mat-Su commercial real estate market, like state and national economy, is relatively flat so far this year, but there’s reason for hope.