Federal Agencies Prominent Despite Downsizing

The federal government (including uniformed military personnel) has been the largest employer in Alaska since the military build-up associated with World War 11. As late as 1970, it provided almost one in every five civilian wage and salary jobs. As oil and other industries rose to prominence in the 1970s, federal government's share of employment declined. However, despite recent downsizing, the federal government (including the military) is still the largest single employer in Alaska's job base. In all, more than 37,000 individuals had federal government jobs in Alaska in 1995.