very month of 2023, a theme has recurred in this magazine: Alaska needs workers. Employers are practically (and sometimes literally) begging for applicants. Economic forecasts show that migration into the state isn’t keeping up with Baby Boomer retirements.

Demographic data that describe the problem are also a sign of salvation. Watched as closely as a stock ticker, the state’s vital statistics measure a natural increase in population. The birth rate in 2022 of 12.7 per 1,000 far outpaces the death rate of 774 per 100,000. Just wait until 2040 or so, and these newborns will be ready for the workforce.

Inspired by Alexandra Kay’s article “People & Patients, Facts & Figures,” this edition of Alaska Trends illustrates data from the Alaska Vital Statistics 2022 Annual Report produced by the Health Analytics and Vital Records section of the state’s Division of Public Health. It reveals that the most common names for 2022’s newborn Alaskans were Oliver, Charlotte, and Aurora. The oldest mother was 50, and 64 percent of mothers had adequate prenatal care; 130 mothers had none.

The oldest Alaskan to die in 2022 was 107. The overall death rate started climbing in 2020 with the arrival of a new top cause, COVID-19, although accidental deaths have also been surging. Cancer is still the most common cause of death, particularly lung and colon cancers, and tobacco contributed to 471 deaths, or 8 percent.

Healthcare providers, risk managers, and human resources departments use these data to balance services to the community’s needs. These figures also form a fascinating snapshot of the lives Alaskans lead, from cradle to crypt.