Many hands makes light work

In 1930, the total population of Alaska was estimated to be 59,000 very hardy souls. According to a population estimate from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, released on January 7, 2025, the entire state’s population today is 741,147 human beings.  That is a massive increase in the span of 95 years, one muted by the even more massive expanse that is the last frontier.  

Over the past couple of weeks, the Alaska Means Business team hit the road to hear the stories from some of those humans from Whittier to Wasilla.  We interfaced with business leaders who represented 4 different generations, and many ilks of ethnicity. All echoed a similar notion.  “Business is brisk, but we could use more help.” 

The old expression is true, “many hands makes light work”. It is clear, Alaska could use more hands.  

If it were possible to poll all 741,147 Alaskans with the question, “What is the single best thing about this state?”, the most likely answer would be, “It’s people.”  That feels true.  Yes, we’d see answers like “world-class fishing & hunting”, and “access to the unparalleled beauty of nature”. The hunting and nature access responses are certainly more possible because of the existence of our fellow Alaskans.  

If that hypothetical poll above is correct, and our family/neighbors/people are what most Alaskans hold most dear, would Alaska be better/stronger with more people?  More hands to make the work lighter.

Attracting people who will come to Alaska and stick has been tried again and again.  The gold rushes, the Matanuska Colony, the Alaska Teacher Initiatives, the Delta Barley Project and the Oil Boom.  Some think some of those endeavors failed.  It’s easy to see why some might think that.  The Matanuska Colony project, launched as a part of FDR’s New Deal in 1935 and brought 203 families who farmed from the Midwest to what became Palmer.  It had many flaws.  By 1965, only 20 of those original families remained.  The long, cold winters, remoteness and the challenges of cracking the code of Alaskan farming in an un-turned land, washed 90% of those farmers out. 

But, despite that attrition, today, the Matanuska Valley produces some of the best, and the absolute biggest varieties of produce in the world. In Alaska, we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. That part of Alaska is now the fastest-growing portion of the state.  Would it be thriving today without those 183 families busting the sod, and contributing to infrastructure?  Probably not.     

We need people, but we need people to stick.  If you have ever recruited a key employee from the lower-48, you have probably felt it’s a bit of a gamble. Will these dark winters and the lack of TGIFridays in Fairbanks scare them away?  What will happen when they experience 14 feet of rain in Ketchikan?  We are smarter today than we were back then. We have more to contribute to those people who would take a chance on Alaska than we did in 1935, or 1982.

It’s hard to say who will come, stay, and love it. Based on history, some won’t love it.  But, Alaska needs to try because those who remain tend to do big things in this big state. Alaska is resource-rich, but our most valuable resource of all is our fellow Alaskans.  So let’s continue that tradition of making an extra plate for someone new at Christmas, and checking on those that might be lucky enough to become you one day. In this state, our neighbors are the support system.

Blake Messer

Alaska Means Business