Alaska needs to work at reversing the outmigration

By Nolan Klouda

Executive director

University of Alaska Center for Economic Development Anchorage

Your favorite restaurant has an hour wait, even though you see empty tables. Operating hours for small businesses are reduced despite long lines. “Help wanted” signs seem to adorn every doorway.

You don’t have to spend a lot of time looking at data to know that there’s a labor shortage. Workers of every stripe are just hard to find. Some employers, understandably grouchy about being short-staffed, blame widespread laziness. “Nobody wants to work for a living anymore,” is a common refrain.

Others o...