Report: Southeast Alaska economy struggling, tourism excels

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP ) – Southeast Alaska was hit hard in 2016 by government job losses and a lull in fishing production, but the tourism industry continues to grow, a state economy expert said.

Economic development officials with the Southeast Conference found that the region lost 750 state jobs throughout the past three years, a nearly 15 percent drop, CoastAlaska News reported.

Meilani Schijvens, who wrote the report for the conference, said that loss of wages is similar to a large mine being shut down in Southeast Alaska.

“It’s actually slightly bigger,’’ she said. “So it is an enormous econ...