Developing the future of industrial workforce
ConocoPhillips supports UA’s industry pipeline ConocoPhillips Alaska and the Uni - versity of Alaska (UA) announced the launch of the ConocoPhillips Alas - ka Process Technology Support Fund, aimed at developing and securing the future of Alaska’s industrial workforce. Anchored by a $400,000 gift from ConocoPhillips Alaska to benefit UA’s Process Technology Programs in Fair - banks and on the Kenai Peninsula, this contribution and partnership represent a commitment to sustaining high-de - mand jobs that power Alaska’s energy, mining and water treatment sectors. The fund helps connect classroom learning with the skills students need to step directly into industry careers. These programs are already deliver - ing results, with 87% of UA Process Technology graduates entering Alas - ka’s workforce within a year of grad - uation. Continued investment ensures this successful talent pipeline remains strong and supports critical industries across the state well into the future. “UA empowers Alaska’s workforce and economy, and I’m grateful to Con - ocoPhillips Alaska for their support of essential workforce programs,” said UA President Pat Pitney. “These pro - grams are helping us build Alaska’s future workforce, and the ConocoPhil - lips Alaska Process Technology Sup - port Fund will help UA address Alas - ka’s workforce, energy and economic demands, while also offering the op - portunity for more partners to invest in this vital degree program that ben - efits many of the state’s key industries and Alaska’s economy.” ConocoPhillips Alaska has a long
Training the workforce of the future — now
As Alaska confronts a significant labor shortage, the University of Alaska sits at the center of a large-scale plan to help develop the industrial work- force of the future. As outlined in the Alaska’s Work- force Future plan, the state faces the dual challenge of a shrinking work- ing-age population and more than $20 billion in infrastructure and re- source development projects ex- pected by 2030. An estimated 20,000 additional workers will be needed to meet demand across construction, healthcare, transportation, energy and public service. At the heart of the strategy to meet that demand is Alaska’s public univer- sity system — not just as an academic institution, but as a workforce engine. Alaska’s Workforce Future, spear- headed by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workforce Investment Board, makes clear that workforce development cannot succeed without deep coordination between industry and education. The University of Alaska is a core implementation partner — tasked
with aligning curriculum, expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE), strengthening apprenticeship path- ways, improving access to post-sec- ondary training and helping retain young Alaskans who might otherwise leave the state. One of the most urgent themes in the workforce plan is career aware- ness. Surveys show many students simply do not know what high-demand careers exist in Alaska or what training is required. The University of Alaska is cen- tral to solving that disconnect, and through coordination with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), is tasked with a variety of focuses, including improving alignment between high school CTE programs and postsecondary creden- tials and strengthening dual-credit and early college options By building clearer, faster transi- tions from high school to certificate or degree programs, the university can help shorten the time between grad- uation and workforce entry — a critical factor in a tight labor market affecting multiple large-scale industries.
From 2013 to 2021, Alaska’s work- ing-age population declined by 5.6%, even as the national average in- creased, according to the workforce plan. Reversing outmigration is now an economic imperative and the plan calls for collaboration between DEED and the University of Alaska to reduce barriers to postsecondary education and improve access specifically for Alaska residents. Among the strategies targeted are exploring tuition reduc- tions or loan forgiveness for long-term residents and encouraging nonresi- dent students to stay in Alaska after graduation. UA also is focused on integrating classroom learning with work-based training, tailor-made to Alaska’s indus- trial companies and partners. A model is already visible in maritime education through partnerships involving the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium, where UA collaborates with industry and training centers to build sec- tor-specific pipelines. The next phase could help scale similar models across Alaska’s industri- al workforce. — Will Leschper
Photos Courtesy University of Alaska System ConocoPhillips Alaska President Erec S. Isaacson presents a check for $400,000 to representatives from UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage, UAA Kenai Peninsula College and UAF for the ConocoPhillips Alaska Process Technology Fund in UAA’s ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building.
history of supporting the Universi - ty of Alaska System, investing more than $5 million in the past 10 years, and builds on that legacy by providing funding to modernize program facil - ities and expanding technical access training for Alaskans statewide. “The University of Alaska’s Process Technology program has been an in - tegral part of building Alaska’s work - force, especially at ConocoPhillips,” said Erec Isaacson, ConocoPhillips Alaska President. “Many of our tal - ented operators graduated from this program, gaining hands-on skills and real-world experience that prepared them to step into critical roles. This investment underscores our long - standing commitment to developing Alaska’s future workforce and prepar - ing the next generation of operators who will power Alaska’s future.” This fund specifically supports the capacity of the University of Alas - ka Fairbanks’ (UAF) Community and
Technical College and the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) to: n Create early pathways: Dual enrollment at both UAF and KPC will provide high school students with ear - ly access to technical training before graduation. n Enhance instructional capaci - ty: The UAF CTC lab will undergo fa - cility maintenance, receive addition - al instructional support, and update equipment to ensure students train on industry-relevant systems; At KPC, access to a mobile simulator will help train adjunct faculty and those in the “Train the Teachers” program. n Strengthen recruitment efforts and program visibility: The gift in - cludes support for promotional materi - als, advertising, and recruitment travel to reach potential students around the state, especially in rural areas.
— University of Alaska System
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THE LINK: The Official Magazine of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance | SPRING 2026
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