Juneau’s economy strong in 2025, but with notable winners and losers, report finds

Overall wages and sales rose faster than inflation; mining far exceeded tourism in worker pay; federal/tribal/local governments saw biggest drop in employment

A pedestrian passes by a totem pole in downtown Juneau on June 19, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Juneau’s population is continuing to shrink and age, the percentage of non-local workers continues to rise, and the city set a 20-year record for new business applications, according to an annual economic report released Monday.

The 92-page statistical portrait of Alaska’s capital also notes rents are rising rapidly, pay by gender is much more equal than state and national averages, and local per-capita income is notably higher than those averages.

The Juneau Economic Development Council, which authored the study titled "2026 Juneau & Southeast Alaska Economic Indicators and Outlook Report, stated in a press release that the findings "show continued private-sector growth and rising earnings, while population decline and workforce availability remain long-term challenges."

"Juneau’s economy continues to create jobs and generate opportunity, but the community’s long-term prosperity depends on having people here to fill those jobs, build careers, raise families, and sustain the services and institutions we rely on,” JEDC Executive Director Brian Holst said in a prepared statement. “The data reinforce the need to focus on broader factors that shape whether people choose to build a life in Juneau like housing, childcare, health care (including services for seniors), education and career opportunities, amenities, and recreation.”

The study was released on the eve of the three-day Southeast Conference annual meeting, being held this year in Ketchikan, where a multitude of political and industry leaders will discuss the region’s current and future prospects.

A chart provides a statistical overview of Juneau in 2025 compared to 2024. (Juneau Economic Development Council)

Juneau-specific data in the JEDC study notes the city has 31,182 residents in 2025, down from 31,283 in 2024 and a peak of 33,445 in 2015. The population also continues to age, with people 60 and over the fastest-growing demographic.

"In Juneau, the median age increased from 37.8 years in 2015 to 40.6 years in 2025," the study notes.

Private sector employment rose 1.2% in 2025 compared to 2024, while government jobs dropped 1.6%. But those totals mask big differences in subcategories — for instance, state government employment rose 0.1%, federal government employment dropped 7% and local/tribal employment dropped 2.4%.

The unemployment rate of 3.4% in 2025 was the same as the previous year.

There were notable wage differences in public and private sector jobs in Juneau compared to other communities, according to the study.

"Juneau's average monthly wage for the government sector was $6,736 in 2025, above the state average of $6,187 but below that of Anchorage ($7,020)," the study notes. "In contrast, Juneau's private sector average monthly wage of $5,541 is lower than that of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the state average. Juneau's average wages in construction, manufacturing, professional & business services were consistently lower than Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Alaska as a whole."

A total of 19.8% of Juneau households made $0-$49,999 in 2025, 29% made $50,000-$99,999; 22.3% made $100,000 to $149,999 and 28.9% made $150,000 or more.

The gender gap for average pay in Juneau between 2020-2024 is relatively small at about 3% — with an annual median of $72,849 for men and $70,530 for women, the study notes. The statewide gap is about 15% ($71,716 to $60,918) and the national gap about 18% ($67,361 to $55,274).

A continuing trend is mining continues to be one of Juneau’s highest-paying industries while tourism is one of the lowest, according to the study.

"While only accounting for 6% of jobs, the mining industry brought in 11% of total earnings for Juneau in 2025, indicating high wages," the study notes. "In contrast, the retail trade industry represents a relatively high percentage of employment at 10%, but only contributes 5.6% of total earnings in Juneau, indicating lower wages."

A total of 30.1% of all employees were residents from outside Juneau — including 24.1% from outside Alaska — in 2025, marking a gradual rise since 2019 when 20.2% of workers were from outside the state, according to the study.

New business applications increased 21.6% in 2025 to reach a 20-year high, the study notes. But it also notes a rise in businesses closing — from 76 in 2020 to 102 in 2023 — the most recent year published in the JEDC study.

Juneau added 107 total housing units in the first half of 2025, compared to 25 units during the first half of 2024, the study notes. But rental prices, after fluctuating between an average of $1,201 in 2015 to $1,260 in 2022, have since "risen sharply" to $1,554 in 2025, according to the study.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.