THE LINK: WINTER 2025 32 Brisk workforce growth brings focus on staffing Job demand is nearing a peak in key Alaska industries as North Slope oil work continues. Santos, Ltd. and Repsol are pushing to complete phase one of the Pikka project in 2025. ConocoPhillips is working full bore with its Willow project. Both companies say project workforce demands will likely be higher this year, which will also increase demand in trucking and other services that support North Slope projects. Even after Pikka and Willow are complete, oil work is likely to continue with Donald Trump back in the White House. Contractors and labor groups say they are meeting the short-term demand for skilled labor by bidding up pay (construction wages rose in 2023 and 2024) and bringing in out-ofstate workers when Alaskans aren’t available. But there are long-term worries with increasing retirements of experienced craft workers and demoPeak in job demands spurs more training Shutterstock Photo State economists project brisk growth in jobs related to heavy industry particularly in construction and transportation.
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