Seafood Processing Jobs Open As Hiring Starts For Herring, Salmon, Pollock Seasons

Mar. 23, 2004
No. 04-41

JUNEAU – State labor officials are encouraging both experienced and entry-level seafood processing workers to contact state job centers now for information to begin filling more than 1,400 processing job openings during Alaska’s 2004 commercial seafood season.

Additional processing job openings are expected and will be announced as the season continues. Seafood companies need large numbers of workers to process herring, salmon and pollock during the spring and summer seasons.

Seafood processing job information is available through the statewide Alaska Job Center Network operated by the Employment Security Division of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Examples of available processing jobs include 300 open positions at UniSea, Inc. and Westward Seafoods in Dutch Harbor and 155 openings at Norquest Seafoods and E.C. Phillips in Ketchikan. Additional major openings include 225 processing positions in Naknek offered by four processors: Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Alaska General Seafoods, Leader Creek Fisheries and Yardarm Knott Fisheries.

Labor Commissioner Greg O’Claray said, “The season is almost here and it is important for prospective workers to contact job recruiters soon.

“Seafood industry workers take pride in their work and they excel as team workers. When they do well and complete their employment season they have a fine opportunity to advance up the career ladder.”

Large numbers of seafood workers are needed to start in May for a two-week herring season in Bristol Bay. That area will also have a five-week salmon season starting in mid-June.

Other salmon seasons starting in mid-June include a seven-week season in Kenai; six to eight weeks in the Cordova/Valdez and Kodiak/Larsen Bay areas and an eight-week season in Southeast Alaska.

A large number of processing workers will be needed in Dutch Harbor from mid-June through early in November for the second “B” season for pollock.

State seafood specialists note that some processing companies provide transportation to work sites and have room and board incentives that are dependent upon completion of the work contract.

Openings also exist for more technical positions including maintenance workers, quality control technicians, lead and second cooks, office managers and payroll accountants. Several companies are accepting faxed applications statewide and will interview by telephone with verifiable references.

Seafood specialists offer several suggestions and note these free state services for workers seeking seafood processing jobs:

•Contact the Alaska Job Center Network, at 269.4708 or 269.4770, extension 7 in Anchorage, or tollfree statewide at 1.800.473.0688.

•Visit the Alaska Job Center Network online at jobs.alaska.gov and click on Seafood Jobs or Alaska’s Job Bank. The job bank accommodates job search by specific occupation: cook, mechanic or quality control; or by location: Naknek, Dutch Harbor or Petersburg. Job referral instructions and applications are available online for printing and faxing.

The Employment Security Division provide this current summary of seafood processing job opportunities:

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News Media Contacts:
Laurie Fuglvog, DOLWD Employment Security Division Seafood, 907.465.5926 or
Joe Holbert, Special Assistant/Communications, 907.465.5673

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