Alaska Business has been partnering with Junior Achievement (JA) of Alaska for many years, long before I joined the magazine’s editorial team. Our annual January special section featuring JA of Alaska coincides with the Alaska Business Hall of Fame banquet, which honors laureates who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to building the Alaska business community. In addition to highlighting the new laureates (and the rare Denali Award winner, as is happening this year), the Alaska Business Hall of Fame banquet is JA of Alaska’s largest annual fundraiser, being held this year on January 25.

I enjoy approaching the new year through the lens of how the business community can help strengthen and support Alaska’s youth. It especially hit home this year. Our editorial team has heard one consistent message in 2023 across all industries: business owners and operators have been challenged with finding qualified workers. This concern is compounded by historic levels of federal funding for infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and rural projects, all of which present awesome opportunities for the state but require a skilled workforce to plan, construct, and maintain. Even beyond those projects, retailers, healthcare service providers, and small businesses spanning all industries have reported to us at various times that finding the right people for the job is an obstacle.

For example, in September I was looking for a business to profile related to the timber industry. My research led me to a long-established small business in Southeast that, from my initial research, would have been a great option. The business owner took my call and frankly explained that, in previous years, he would’ve taken the opportunity for a profile in our magazine without hesitation. But due to his inability to hire workers, his business had recently cut many of its services, and the timing wasn’t right. This conversation with the owner—in which he was open, communicative, and honest—increased my disappointment that our readers would miss an opportunity to learn more about this Alaskan and the business he’s been building for decades.

One way to address this issue is attracting workers to Alaska. Another is ensuring that our youth don’t have good reasons to leave.

While planning this year’s special section, JA of Alaska President Flora Teo conveyed to me that the organization is focused on helping Alaska’s youth find success through a variety of educational and career paths. She pointed out that many jobs our children tackle in ten years may not even exist today, and the traditional model of high school, followed by college, followed by entry-level positions, is not the path that many of our youth will take to financial success. Our youth need guidance on their many workplace options, but even more importantly, our business community needs to be prepared to support Alaskan youth in their pursuits so that when they are getting training or educated, starting careers, or launching their businesses, they see the benefit of doing so right here in the 49th State. Monetary donations are one way to help, and they’re important—but your time investing in Alaska’s youth has absolutely no substitute. Please consider investing generously.