I left my job as a program director at a public radio station in Dillingham, Alaska at the end of February. My significant other started working for the State in Anchorage 10 months before, and the cost of living and traveling from bush Alaska to Anchorage was starting to add up.
I’ve been on the hunt for a job in Anchorage since arriving, and like most people looking for work right now, it hasn’t been easy.
There seem to be a healthy amount of job announcements that come and go, but not a lot of call backs on the jobs that are applied to. Another trend that seems to be popping up is announcing jobs and then terminating the job sometime during the interview process. I’ve applied for 3 that have done that so far.
Before the current recession, Alaska usually ranked in the top three of unemployed states. Since the economic downturn (does anyone else hate that term?), Alaska has managed to remain relatively stable in unemployment which is holding at right around 7.7%. The national average is closer to 9%.
You can see a graph of the U.S. unemployment rate compared to Alaska here: Unemployment Data
Alaska (and most places that not part of the lower 48 states), generally fares better in a slow economy due to its economy being somewhat more self reliant. Less fickle industries like natural resources tend to prop it up.
Still, despite Alaska not being in the high tier of joblessness in the country, it’s tough going for a lot of people with a professional background looking for a job. I’m not quite sure professional relates to white-collar or not, but I’m willing to assume blue-collar is struggling as well.
A friend had a good piece of advice, that I think would be good for anybody looking for a job.
“Jobs are like plants growing in bad soil. You have to plant a lot of seeds before one will grow.”
So keeping my head up, continuing to write and planting a lot of seed will have to do until the right job comes along.
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