While Anchorage typically experiences job losses between November and December, the December 2023 report showed a smaller decrease than usual, indicating a resilient local economy. The overall labor force contracted by 1,471 workers, but December still maintained more jobs than January 2023, defying the historical seasonal trend.
Highlights:
- Healthcare and Food Services Lead Growth: The strongest gains occurred in service-providing industries, with Healthcare adding 1,200 jobs and Food Services and Drinking Places contributing 1,000 new positions.
- Retail Rebounds: Retail trade bounced back from November’s losses, adding 300 jobs, potentially reflecting holiday shopping activity.
- Construction Stable: The construction industry remained steady, holding onto its November employment level.
What Industries and Occupations Grew:
- Healthcare: Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, and Nursing Assistants were in high demand.
- Food Services and Drinking Places: Cooks, Servers, and Food Preparation Workers saw job growth.
- Retail Trade: Salespersons and Cashiers gained employment opportunities.
What Industries and Occupations Shrank:
- Government: State and local government shed 500 jobs, likely due to seasonal fluctuations.
- Administrative and Support Services: Office and Administrative Support Occupations experienced modest declines.
Compare to Same Month Last Year:
- December 2023 employment stood 1,200 positions lower than December 2022, but the annual decline was smaller than the previous year’s drop.
- Healthcare and Leisure & Hospitality remained strong performers year-over-year, adding jobs compared to December 2022.
Compare to Previous Month:
- The overall labor force shrank by 1,471 compared to November 2023, reflecting the usual seasonal pattern.
- However, the job losses were less significant than the average historical decline between November and December.
Future Outlook:
- The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) predicts continued growth in sectors like Healthcare, Logistics & Transportation, and Professional & Business Services.
- The consumer optimism index for Anchorage rose in the fourth quarter of 2023, indicating potential for further economic expansion.
10 Growing Occupations:
- Registered Nurse
- Home Health Aide
- Nursing Assistant
- Cook
- Server
- Food Preparation Worker
- Salesperson
- Cashier
- Truck Driver
- Software Developer
10 Companies Hiring Now:
- Providence Health Alaska
- Anchorage School District
- Municipality of Anchorage
- GCI
- Carlile Transportation Systems
- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
- The Home Depot
- Costco Wholesale
- Walmart
- Starbucks
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