Why Alaska’s workforce future depends on today’s students – and how you can be part of the solution.

By Taylor Burgh

Imagine if a laundromat captured all of the waste heat from its dryers and used it to melt snow and ice along nearby sidewalks.

Or imagine if we could purchase portable human hair mats to prevent contaminated runoff from entering our local storm drains?

What if there were a device we could run our household waste through that would instantly tell us whether a material is recyclable in Alaska, dramatically reducing landfill waste and contamination at recycling centers?

These aren’t concepts from engineering firms or research labs. They’re ideas developed by local high school students I’ve personally worked with through my role at Alaska Resource Education.

Students were challenged to identify a real-world problem connected to Alaska’s natural resources and design a practical, innovative solution. While not every idea here is entirely novel, a far more important pattern emerged from this exercise: when young people are educated and empowered to be informed stewards of our resources – and trusted to think critically about what that responsibility means – they rise to the challenge.

Our future as an industry, and as a state, depends on that kind of innovative thinking.

However, Alaska faces a growing youth engagement crisis. We have one of

the highest rates of “disconnected youth” in the nation, which is defined as young people ages 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor working. Coupled with ongoing outmigration challenges, this has contributed to a serious workforce shortage across multiple industry sectors.

So the question becomes: How do we encourage young Alaskans to stay in the state, and engage them enough to see a future for themselves here?

Part of the answer may lie within the young professional community.

Research shows that students are more motivated when they hear from peers and mentors they can relate to – people who “look like them,” share similar backgrounds, and have recently navigated the same decisions they are facing now. In my own work in education, I’ve seen firsthand how mentorship from young professionals can often resonate more strongly than guidance from someone older or further removed from the early career experience.

That connection matters.

It turns abstract career paths into real people. It turns uncertainty into possibility.

So if you’re a young professional reading this: Get involved. Get in front of students. Talk about what you do, how you got there, the challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned (and are still learning) along the way. Your story may be the one that inspires a student or helps them to realize there is a future for them in Alaska.

And if you’re a business or organization that employs young professionals, give them the opportunity to step out of the office and into mentorship, outreach, and education when possible. Supporting that engagement isn’t just good community involvement, it’s an investment in Alaska’s future workforce and leadership.

At Velocity, we believe Alaska’s future depends on the people willing to invest in it today. By connecting young professionals with the next generation, we help build the education, networks, and opportunities needed for responsible resource development and a sustainable energy future. If you’re ready to make an impact beyond your job title, there’s a place for you at Velocity. Get involved today.