Kodiak’s restaurant and bar industry has shrunk considerably since last year.
That’s according to new employment data released by the Alaska Department of Labor.
In 2019, Kodiak’s 26 restaurants and bars employed 300 people, nearly 5% of Kodiak’s workforce.
But by the end of this summer, only 200 people were employed in that business sector, a decrease of 33%.
That loss of one-third of jobs is similar to the overall statewide decrease in an industry hit hard by the pandemic. In fact, according to the Department of Labor, no other industry has lost such a large share of jobs.
About one-third of Alaska bar and restaurant owners estimate they face a serious risk of closing permanently.
The state predicts that the industry could take years to recover.
However, Kodiak’s overall unemployment rate remains one of the lowest in the state, at 4.5%.