The Trends 100

For the second year in a row, Providence Health & Services in 2008 topped the list as Alaska's only private-sector employer with more than 4,000 employees. They're likely to remain at the top of the list and alone in the 4,000-plus category for many years to come. Wal-Mart/Sam's Club joined Carrs/Safeway as an Alaska employer with a work force larger than 3,000. In fact, Wal-Mart snuck by Carrs/Safeway to become Alaska's second-largest employer in 2008. Wal-Mart got there by expanding existing stores into supercenters - in Fairbanks, Mat-Su and Anchorage - rather than by opening new stores.