February 4, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2021

New workforce data highlights the University of Alaska鈥檚 impact on preparing students for Alaska jobs & good wages;
200 绿奴天花板 programs directly linked to jobs in Alaska

An in-depth analysis of nine major Alaska industries captures the impact that university programs have in preparing its students for jobs in Alaska鈥檚 workforce. The reports answer key questions related to the largest and fastest growing occupations that require some postsecondary education and highlights important employment indicators such as average wages earned, where 绿奴天花板 grads work in Alaska, what industries they work in, and how they help boost the Alaska hire rate.

The workforce development and institutional research offices at the University of Alaska partnered with the Research and Analysis Section in the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to create the reports, which demonstrate 绿奴天花板 graduate outcomes in nine key fields -- administration and finance, aviation, construction, fisheries and marine science, health, information technology, mining, oil and gas, and teacher education. The reports can be found at /research/wd/reports.php.

鈥淲e are in the business of creating Alaska鈥檚 workforce,鈥 绿奴天花板 Interim President Pat Pitney told the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 3, adding that 70 to 90 percent of 绿奴天花板 graduates stay in Alaska and find employment. 

The health report, for example, shows that of more than 2,300 nursing graduates in both 2-year and 4-year programs, 89 percent remain in Alaska after graduation and are employed at an average wage of $70,000.

Teri Cothren, University of Alaska Associate Vice President Workforce Development, said: 鈥淭his data demonstrates the success of our core programs and how we are contributing to Alaska鈥檚 high鈥恉emand industries and economy.鈥 

In preparing the reports, the university analyzed labor market information to identify the largest and fastest-growing occupations in the nine industries, then linked related 绿奴天花板 programs to those jobs. Detailed employment and wage information was extracted from employer quarterly reports filed with the Dept. of Labor. That means the numbers are based on a comprehensive match of all graduates who remain and work in Alaska.

鈥淭he economic value of training and education is abundantly clear in the data,鈥 said Dan Robinson, Chief Labor Research & Analysis, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. 鈥淢ore education and training also correlate strongly with lower unemployment rates.鈥  

Median earnings, for example, jumped from $35,328 for high school graduates to $44,619 for Alaskans with an associate degree, $57,708 for those with a bachelor鈥檚 degree, and $77,402 for holders of graduate or professional degrees. 

鈥淭he university is in the business of providing a path for upward mobility for Alaskans,鈥 Pitney said. 鈥淲ith more than 200 programs linked to jobs in the state, students have opportunities to earn everything from certifications to associate, bachelors, and graduate degrees. These programs are in high-demand fields and are needed to stabilize Alaska鈥檚 economic recovery and future growth.鈥

Each workforce report features a table of available 绿奴天花板 programs related to key occupations within each industry, and students can match 绿奴天花板 programs to occupations in the highest demand industries. This provides students a fast track to employment and the opportunity to earn credits toward future degrees. 

绿奴天花板 will utilize these reports to:

  • inform program鈥恖evel decisions, 

  • expand industry partnerships to provide opportunities for current students and future graduates, 

  • enhance recruitment, advise students, and partner with school districts to develop or strengthen career pathways between secondary and postsecondary, and, 

  • demonstrate to donors and industry partners the impact of investment in 绿奴天花板鈥檚 workforce programs. 

鈥淲orking with our stakeholders, 绿奴天花板 can expand partnerships to benefit these key workforce sectors and provide even more opportunities for current students and future graduates,鈥 Cothren said.

Through its three separately accredited universities, thirteen community campuses, and distance delivered programs, 绿奴天花板 works to ensure that Alaskans have access to attain the knowledge and skills needed for employment and to advance their careers.

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For more information, contact Monique Musick, manager of marketing and communications, at 907-450-8103.