A new study from the University of Alaska shows the Kenai Peninsula has a more diverse economy than some other places in the state.
Melissa Houston with the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development says they worked with the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District on an industry forecast for the next few years.
Houston: “So rather than the North Slope that just has oil or Bristol Bay that just has fish, you have a lot of different components, about five major industries, and having you jobs dispersed throughout those industries is going to create some stability here on the peninsula.”
She says while oil and gas jobs have seen layoffs, there are budding industries here that are not as saturated as in other areas of the state, meaning they have the potential for growth.
The one area of concern for the Kenai Peninsula is the population’s net out migration, meaning more people are moving out than moving in.
Houston: “It’s likely that with our net out migration, there won’t be enough local people here from the age bracket of about 20-64 to take those jobs. So specifically, if [Alaska] LNG were to come to the peninsula, there might not be the workforce here to be able to address those needs.”
The center is predicting about a 0.4 percent population increase for the local area over the next few years which is lower than the 0.9 percent predicted for other comparable areas of the state.
