Seafood season is here. As such, the state is encouraging seasonal hiring. While the hopes are residents will be hired for these jobs, that continues to be a tall order.
“Some seasonal jobs are in strong supply right now,” Labor Commissioner Click Bishop said in a release. “Young people are especially encouraged to apply, as these jobs offer an opportunity to earn money quickly while building a work history, as well as travel and see Alaska.”
The release states that there are about 500 seafood processing job openings across the state, with the minimum age for many seafood jobs being 18.
“The heavy demand for seafood workers will continue through August as additional runs open and seafood is processed around the state,” states Nelson San Juan, seafood employment specialist with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The release encourages young people to apply for such jobs. Still, both the state and the companies know most of these jobs will be taken up by those coming from outside Alaska.
Taku Fisheries Vice President and General Manager Eric Norman, said a large part of the summer’s seasonal employees come from the Lower 48, mostly younger folks and students. He even hires European college students.
Norman says local and in-state seasonal workers have been quite difficult to find, which he says is common in the seafood processing business.
Alaska Glacier Seafoods CEO Mike Erickson agrees, saying the local market can be tough in Juneau. He said many of these seasonal jobs are entry-level and minimal paying so locals just aren’t interested. Norman said the difficulty of the work can also be a factor for residents.
Norman said there’s still a large need for such workers, with needs for thousands across the state during a season. He said they have “big needs” and are “gearing up for a big salmon season.”
“It’s probably the type of work and salaries that makes it not really attractive for some workers,” said Erickson.
It’s a different story for permanent employees. During the winter, Alaska Glacier Seafoods has about 80 local residents on board. Erickson said that changes over the summer with non-residents far outnumbering the local, permanent folks. He said there are about 115 employees at the season’s peak, with most of those being seasonal.
Most of these are young college students who don’t mind coming to Juneau to work these jobs at those pay levels. Erickson said a lot of students there enjoy the work and don’t mind the entry-level side of it because they know they will be going back to school in a few months. He said the hours can allow them to make decent money for the time being. Norman said many from outside the state and country also come here for the adventure of it.
As state economist Mali Abrahamson put it, “They’re tourists themselves.”
Erickson said it helps that seasonal workers tend to go back to school so companies don’t have to do layoffs in the fall.
Still, both company leaders say they always try to hire locally when they can.
Erickson added the company’s expansion with a new logistics support center will most likely create some additional permanent jobs rather than seasonal.
Nonresident seasonal employees aren’t a new thing. State economist Caroline Schultz said this trend has remained consistent over the years. She said seafood processing has the highest nonresident seasonal numbers of any industry in the Southeast. She said numbers from 2009 show there were 71 percent nonresident employees in Southeast’s seafood industry while such employees were 75 percent of the industry’s workforce statewide.
Abrahamson also said Southeast’s seafood processing trends have varied little in the last decade. As for total seafood employment, she said the Sitka area has driven the Southeast’s increase after 2008’s low numbers. Although Juneau has played an increased role in employment since the early 2000s, Petersburg and Ketchikan have the highest employment.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development showed a minimal projected change in statewide seasonal employment in seafood processing, from 7,400 last April to a preliminary number of 7,600 this April.
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s communications director, Beth Leschper, said the state works with anyone ready to work in the industry. She is just as encouraging to residents for these jobs, saying there are 23 job centers throughout Alaska that recruit for the industry.
Information on seafood processing jobs is available at these centers or by calling toll-free in Alaska (800) 473-0688. Seafood job descriptions and application information are available on ALEXsys, Alaska’s Online Job Bank, at Jobs.Alaska.Gov. Seafood recruiting events are posted on the “Job Fair” link.
• Contact reporter Jonathan Grass at 523-2276 or at jonathan.grass@juneauempire.com.
Comments (18)
Add commentCheap labor!!
When I fished in Bristol Bay the cannery workers in Egegik were mainly Romanians--they were given rubber checks when they left town and didn't know it since there are no banks to cash them.I'm sure several seasonal seafood employers are taking advantage of the cheap or free outside help. Welcome to Alaska!!
its wrong
I am sorry with all the unemployed in Alaska, it should be local hire first.. local union workers as well. We dont need to foot the bill for some other states workers, let alone give away Alaskan monies when they leave town... COME on Alaska.. help your own before seeking elsewhere. Keep the monies in Alaska, it will profit your friends and family when they come in and spend that money in Alaskan owned stores.
The problem is, as they
The problem is, as they stated in the article, that people don't want to work for the wages they offer or to do the amount of labor required. I don't fault the businesses for not hiring locals, they hire from who applies. Fault the locals who would rather take unemployent or welfare than work the slime line.
Agreed kpawsuh
What's more, there already are plenty of locals working the slime line, but they don't exactly make a competitive wage. Most of them live paycheck to paycheck in campgrounds. Juneau is not an affordable place to live at minimum wage.
Work Ethics:
Kpawsuh nailed it. I know Mike and he is a very good man and would like to hire locals here in town. As he said, locals just don’t want to work at the wages they offer. Most young adults “collage or high school” think this type of work is beneath them. They want to go straight for the gold ring, no stops or learning along the way. I believe work ethics in our young generation have long gone, not all just most.
kpawsuh is right, teacher...
Although it also depends on hours. Had a boyfriend in Petersburg way, way back in the day who worked 16 hour days - he made decent money. He also was still living at home, though.
I see no reason why healthy folks collecting unemployment shouldn't be 'encouraged' to apply and take these jobs - most T-shirt shop jobs start at around $8 an hour too - you get a roommate or two and find an apartment to share. We've all been there.
Technically, eligibility for
Technically, eligibility for unemployment necessitates active job-seeking, but quite apparently many people are able to work around that requirement. Considering that working at all means forfeiting unemployment benefits, it's understandable (though still deplorable) that someone would rather collect $200 a week to sit on their ass than work 40 hours a week and take home $270 after taxes.
And Milspec, I would like to
And Milspec, I would like to respectfully disagree with your statement that most college or high school types feel above this kind of work. Unfortunately, the only evidence I have offhand is anecdotal and thus unreliable, but I fear your statement is merely supposition anyway. But, for what it's worth, everyone I knew from my graduating high school class worked a summer job to help pay for their college. While some were lucky and got high-paying, seasonal work, most, such as myself, worked either retail or in tourism. $10/hr is not what I would call going straight for the gold ring, but it beats $7.75 to sling fish guts around.
But again, this is all anecdotal evidence. My peer group may just be more motivated than the rest of my demographic. I'm just weary of blanket generalizations based solely on observation, as I've noticed those tend to be quite wrong.
I think Milspec nailed
I think Milspec nailed it...kinda. I don't know that they thing processing jobs are beneath them, but those jobs on the line are definitely not as "$exy" as a guiding job or waiting tables at Twisted or The Hangar.
also, being employed doesn't automatically exempt a person from being eligible for UI. There are some formulas Dept of Labor uses to determine how much of your UI benefit you are still eligible for once you start working. If you go back to work make $270/wk, it is entirely possible that you would still collect some kind of benefit.
J-1 Visa Workers in Alaska Fisheries and Tourism
My understanding is that 5,000 foreign workers come to Alaska each summer, half to work in fisheries and the other half in tourist hotels. This is part of the 500,000 hoarde that comes to the US each summer on J-1 visas - 4 month "cultural" passes that allow visitors to work. The entire East Coast of summer tourist towns - from Maine to Florida - is staffed by these hospitality students from Eastern Europe. It is a shame in Alaska that many go without any employment, while these jobs never 'open up' to locals. The summer foreign worker group is easier to manage, house and discipline, with the threat of deportion hanging over their heads.
Where do you get that these
Where do you get that these jobs aren't open to locals? I've worked or talked with a number of people in the visitor industry all over the state, and each and every one of them would rather hire somebody local. I think your assertion that these job "never open up to locals" is way off base.
That's a more reasonable
That's a more reasonable assertion, akbrdguru. I don't think we can blame them either for taking a job that's more pleasant and that pays better, so long as such a job is available (and in Juneau, they are available to anyone who looks for them).
And chipthoma, those jobs -are- open to Alaskans, it's just that people here aren't exactly clamoring for such work and the employers absolutely need it to get done. Our job market in Alaska is actually quite healthy.
"The children now love
"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers."
- Socrates (attributed by Plato)
Young people aren't getting any lazier or less disciplined. People just become resentful of the young as they age, and this is probably exacerbated by exponential technological growth. We didn't have smart phones when I was a kid, but Milspec. didn't even have cell phones, and I imagine computers were large, awesome devices that took a large room to house them.
Afishisborn:
I understand what you are saying. However I didn't say all just some. The word "most" may have been a bit too much in my description. I do know several young adults that I am very proud of. Things have changed though; I would take on any job when I was young. Example, I have some work needed’ something I don’t want to do myself. It is not a very glamorous one so I will pay very well to have it done. I have spoken to several and they turn it down. An hour and half at $150 to 200 is not a bad deal. No takers though.
Mil, I know of a young man
Mil, I know of a young man who is fundraising for his Eagle Scout project that just might take you up on it, assuming it is appropriate for a 15 yr old in todays world, etc. No guarantees on quality, but a good cause none the less. He has done an occasional project for me and done fine with some supervision. He is working on a donation base, so however much you feel is appropriate.
Their is no work that is
Their is no work that is below anyone, but their are wages that are below us. You can't pay a livable wage then you don't deserve my time.
Fish habitat
Over the years different groups have taken seasonal employment in Alaska's seafood industry and, although the demographic of the workers may change over time, the jobs are not sustainable unless there are fish. Better keep our forests intact and our fish habitat clean or these seafood processing jobs will be gone. Muskowski, Begich and Young are all trying to privatize the Tongass into the hands of a logging corporation with a record of decimating fish and wildlife habitat. Write them to stop S 730 and HR 1408 or our fish habitat will be gone!