The Oil Industry

Oil has played central roles in Alaska's economy and psyche since 1957, when the Kenai fields were discovered. The economic implications of this find were important in the statehood movement and Alaska's admission to the Union. In 1968, the discovery of the massive Prudhoe Bay field ushered in a new era of prosperity for Alaska. The jobs directly created by the oil industry have never been great in number, but they remain some of the most sought after in the state's labor market.