pril is rarely warm or snow-free enough for most Alaskans to expect to see budding green in the ground. But for those looking forward to long days, warm sun, and verdant garden plots, April is the right time to plan for Alaska’s short but powerful growing season.
Fortunately for some of Alaska’s largest corporations, planting the seeds for a vibrant workforce can be a year-round effort. Especially for those companies who see other growth in their future—higher revenue, additional locations, new subsidiaries, innovative products, diverse service lines—a skilled, robust bouquet of employees is essential.
Cultivating the right employees—whether guiding budding workers in entry-level positions or revitalizing transplants from other workplaces—can be a deciding factor on whether a company climbs to its goals or is left stunted in the shadows.
For the 2026 Corporate 100, Alaska’s largest companies as ranked by number of Alaskan employees, every employee counts—certainly to move higher in the ranks but, more significantly, on a day-to-day business as these companies provide services and goods to Alaska’s residents and businesses.
Since 2016, the Corporate 100 has provided employee data for for-profit, not-for-profit, and nonprofit entities. Ranking the Corporate 100 by number of Alaskan employees gives Alaska Business an opportunity to share with our readers the companies providing home-grown jobs in the 49th State.
As a group, the 2026 Corporate 100 employ 73,268 Alaskans, which is approximately 20 percent of the Alaska workforce; across the world, they employ upwards of 3 million people, including their Alaskan workers.
At #2 is Arctic Slope Regional Corporation with 3,705 employees, a slight increase for the regional corporation over 2025, when it held the #4 rank. It’s joined in the top ten by NANA Regional Corporation (3,122 employees, #4).
At #3 is Trident Seafoods, which is the only representative of the seafood industry in 2026, reporting 3,653 Alaskan employees. In past years, other seafood processing and value-added companies have ranked high in the Corporate 100, but they have recently seen reductions in workforce or production, many in response to changes in Alaska’s fisheries.
Walmart, at #6, is the first retailer in the top ten for Alaska, with 2,825 Alaskan employees, and it’s the largest employer on the list in terms of worldwide numbers, reporting more than 750,000 workers. In the top ten it is joined by retailer Carrs Safeway (#7), now owned by Albertsons, with 2,800 Alaska employees.
Rounding out the top ten is Alaska Airlines, one of eleven transportation companies in the Corporate 100, reporting 2,200 Alaskan employees and ranked at #8.
Approximately one-third of the Corporate 100 report 100 percent Alaskan workforces, but for some of the larger employers, Alaskans represent fewer than 1 percent of their global workforce.
Nearly 80 percent of the Corporate 100 have their roots firmly planted in Alaska, having been launched in the 49th State. The majority of the Corporate 100 report locations in Anchorage, but many on the list have operations outside of the state’s largest city, and much of the list has multiple locations around Alaska, giving the group statewide reach. Native regional and village corporations, healthcare providers, and retailers such as Three Bears Alaska (#14) have many employees outside of the state’s major urban centers.
This year’s Corporate 100 ranks are unique in that there are no new entrants: every organization listed this year has been listed previously, but that does include Walmart, Northern Hospitality Group (#29), and Orthopedic Physicians of Alaska (#40), which were listed in the ranks for the first time in 2025.
The survey asks employers to report their peak employment numbers; it does not specify what “type” of employee to count in terms of full-time, seasonal, et cetera. Employers are asked to report their employee numbers however they internally determine that figure.
Companies occasionally will report identical Alaskan employee figures; in those cases, the employer with more worldwide employees is ranked higher. In the rare event that two companies report the same number of Alaskan and worldwide employees, the company that has been operating in Alaska for longer is ranked higher on the list.
CIRI and R&M were invited to respond to a Q&A about how they cultivate and care for their employees.
CIRI: We look for mission-driven professionals who demonstrate integrity and operate with a high standard of excellence; professionals who collaborate well across teams, respect diverse perspectives, and take ownership of their role; and individuals who demonstrate adaptability, accountability, and alignment with our company values.
AB: What words best describe your company culture?
CIRI: Mission-driven, collaborative, respectful, and accountable.
AB: What does your organization do to retain employees?
CIRI: Our focus is on meaningful work and contributing directly to our CIRI shareholders/descendants and families; opportunities to contribute to impactful initiatives; leadership engagement; professional development; recognition of performance; and culture of respect and unity.
AB: What’s your plan: holding steady or looking to grow?
CIRI: We are working to continue to grow our business and shareholder value responsibly and sustainably.
R&M Consultants: We hire people who share our values. We want people who share a commitment to doing things the right way and improving our communities through projects that matter. We look for those who want to work as part of a competitive team to collaboratively develop innovative solutions to meet the toughest challenges our clients face. The qualities that support this are commitment to quality work, integrity, work ethic, collaboration, and a true desire to improve Alaskan communities.
AB: What words best describe your company culture?
R&M: Flexible, empathetic, supportive, excellence-driven, community-minded.
R&M: We expect a lot from our employees, but in return we provide a flexible, supportive work environment that gives people space to be great at work and in their family lives. We also offer unique benefits, such as free snacks and beverages; an employee wellness center where people can work out or just engage socially with their peers; and numerous wellness and community volunteer initiatives.
AB: What’s your plan: holding steady or looking to grow?
R&M: R&M fluctuates between 100 and 140 employees, depending on how many seasonal staff we employ to accommodate Alaska’s construction season. Right now, we are closely watching developments in match funding for transportation projects, as this will greatly affect the size of our staff over the next few construction seasons. With several large projects under discussion, including the LNG pipeline, major military projects, and renewed interest in the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, we are optimistic about growth. We recently opened our fourth office in Alaska —in Wasilla—to assist in recruiting people living in the Mat-Su Valley, which we hope will lead to additional growth.