Kodiak Employment is Hard to Estimate - Because of the State of Alaska's method of collecting employment data, it is difficult to determine the exact size of the Kodiak Island Borough work force. The Alaska Department of Labor's main source of employment data is the state's unemployment insurance program, collected through Employment Security Contributions (ESC). Self-employed workers (fishermen) and military employees (Coast Guard) do not participate in this program, so no data is collected for these two sectors. Details in MS Excell 97 format (61k)

Seasonal Variations - Kodiak's employment varies throughout the year due to the seasonal nature of the fishing industry. Employment usually peaks during the months of July, August and September when fish harvesting is busiest, and declines in November and December as yearly fishing quotas are reached. Unlike fishing communities that have few fishing seasons and a transient cannery workforce, for the most part those employed in Kodiak's canneries live here year round and are unemployed between seasons.   For this reason, Kodiak is characterized by large swings in its monthly unemployment rate throughout the year, from as low as 5.5% to as high as 16.5%. The average annual unemployment rate for the Kodiak Island Borough in 2004 was 9.7%.

In 2004, the state estimated the borough's average monthly employment to be 5,503, excluding fish harvesting and Coast Guard. (This figure more accurately depicts the number of full and part- time jobs as opposed to the number of actual workers. Workers who switch jobs or hold more than one job may be counted more than once.)

Based on the number of commercial fishing permits held by Kodiak residents and accepted crew ratios, annual commercial fishing employment is estimated to be 650. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard directly employs approximately 1,300. Therefore, total employment for the Kodiak Island Borough is estimated to be 7,453.

Government Entities and US Coast Guard is Largest Sector - The US Coast Guard and other government entities is the dominant industry, in terms of employment with 35% of the total. The seafood industry (includes fish harvesting and seafood processing) is the next largest employment sector, with 27%. Retail trade/transportation/utilities accounted for about 11%, financial/information/professional & business 6%, education/health 7%, leisure & hospitality 6%, natural resources/construction 4%, and other services 3%.

Uniformed personnel stationed in Kodiak are attached to the following Commands:

• CGC Storis (WMEC 38)
• CGC Spar (WLB206)
• CGC Alex Haley (WMEC 39)
• CG Integrated Support Command Kodiak
• CG Air Station Kodiak
• Communications Station Kodiak
• Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak
• NAVCEN Detachment Kodiak
• Electronics Support Unit Kodiak
• Loran Station Kodiak
• North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center
• CG Investigations Resident Agent Office
• 17th District Public Affairs Officer, West

Income

In 2004, the Alaska Department of Labor reported the annual average monthly wage for workers in the Kodiak Island Borough was $2,718. Total payroll in 2004 was $179.5 million. In 2004 Kodiak's annual average wage was $32,616, compared to a statewide average of of $38,604.

Employment Information

• Kodiak Job Service Information (email, list of services, etc!)

• The Alaska Department of Labor now publishes a list of current Kodiak job openings at their Online Job Bank.

• Alaska Department of Labor - Relocating to Alaska