Far fewer workers from abroad are in Alaska this summer, adding another challenge for employers

Foreign college students who once flocked to Alaska for summer work are in short supply this season, adding to the state’s labor shortage and creating another complication for local businesses trying to get back on track as the pandemic ebbs.

The employees, part of the U.S. State Department’s J-1 Summer Work Travel cultural exchange program, have traditionally worked in restaurants, hotels and other businesses during Alaska’s busy summer tourism seasons.

Before the pandemic, they came to Alaska in outsized numbers compared to other states.

But last year, the program was virtually nonexistent after President Donald Trump implemented a ban on the J-1 and other visa programs during the pandemic.

And their numbers remain low this summer, as understaffed U.S. embassies and consulates work through a backlog of visa applications, a State Department official said. Also,…