Resident Hire Law Re-Triggered Today
Jul. 2, 2001
No. 01-69
Findings Reflect Improved Resident Hire in Construction
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development re-triggered the resident hire law today in the construction industry. According to the Department, based on analysis of the most recent employment data available, Alaska residents have hiring preference for 15 of 22 potential occupational categories.
"This is the lowest number of crafts triggered since inception of the local hire law," Labor Commissioner Ed Flanagan said. "It reflects the improved resident hire in the construction industry that has occurred over the past few years."
Flanagan noted that while resident hire is the law for these occupations and crafts, there is a provision that allows for its waiver. "We recognize that at times in some areas of the state there is a shortage of construction workers which makes it difficult to hire locally," he said. "The law allows for the hiring of non-resident workers after reasonable efforts to recruit Alaskan workers have been unsuccessful."
This statewide hiring preference, which includes most public contracts, applies on a project-by project, craft-by-craft or occupational basis, and must be met each workweek. The occupations and crafts covered by this order include:
- Boilermakers
- Bricklayers
- Carpenters
- Cement Masons
- Electricians
- Equipment Operators
- Insulation Workers
- Laborers
- Mechanics
- Painters
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Roofers
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Truck Drivers
- Welders
Labor's Division of Labor Standards and Safety enforces Alaska hire employment preference. For more information contact Rich Mastriano, Director of the Division of Labor Standards and Safety, at (907) 269-4900.
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