Until 2018, the story on price increases had been the same for three years straight. The state's single consumer price index registered inflation of 0.5 percent or less each year from 2015 through 2017, which was the lowest period for inflation in Alaska's history. This was largely due to the weak housing market tied to Alaska's recession, which began in late 2015.
The number of Alaskans who are 65 or older is growing rapidly in all regions of the state. This shift to larger senior populations across Alaska will play an important role in shaping our communities and households in the coming years.
Mining is a colorful part of Alaska's past. There are ghost town tours of Kennecott Mine, Skagway exists and thrives because of its gold rush history, and Treadwell Mine tailings created Sandy Beach in Juneau. But mining is also an important part of Alaska's current economy and will almost certainly play a growing role in its future.
The next decennial census will be conducted early next year. While the census provides a multitude of statistics and is used to distribute government funds, its primary purpose is the reapportionment and redistricting of the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures across the country. This once-a-decade process is a good barometer for how the population's distribution has changed.
Alaska residents brought in $42.3 billion in personal income in 2017. Dividing that total by the number of residents - adults and children alike - puts 2017's per capita income at $57,179.
Two months into 2019, here are a few basic things to understand about Alaska's economy and job market as we teeter between resumed growth and a lingering recession.
After three years of job losses, Alaska is set to regain a small amount of lost ground in 2019 as some industries show signs of recovery. We forecast 0.4 percent growth in 2019, or about 1,400 new jobs.
Health care practitioners and technicians make an average of $98,020 a year in Alaska, making Alaska the highest-paying state for these jobs overall. The national average is $80,760.
After a steep drop in 2016, seafood harvesting employment rebounded in 2017, growing 8.3 percent and hitting a record of 8,509 average monthly jobs.
Every two years we project jobs by industry and occupation for a 10-year period, and October provides our newest set for 2016-2026. We project overall job growth at just over 5 percent, with the highest growth in health care.