Labor

Another constant problem for the Russian-American colony was a lack of sufficient manpower, which would remain a challenge until the end. There were never enough Russian workers in Alaska to satisfy the demands of the fur trade. The shortage was not only of actual fur traders but also of workers for ship-building, construction, defense, farming, fishing, and all the other activities necessary to support the colony. Over the whole Baranov Era, there would never be more than 500 Russians total in all of Alaska. At the Russian population peak in 1839, there were only a little over 800 Russians.

There were several reasons why the Russian colony had such a small population. During this time, most of the population in Russia were serfs who were not free to leave their homes and jobs. And few of the Russians who were free to travel to Alaska wished to do so. Alaska was very far from the heart of Russia, at the extreme end of an already vast, under-populated frontier. Living conditions in Alaska were severe, with a harsh climate, heavy work, low pay, a meager diet, and many dangers. The struggle to feed the Russians already there also limited more Russians from coming. 

One way Russians addressed the constant labor shortage was by using Alaskan Natives. Each Native settlement under Russian control was required to provide laborers. Whether going on fur-hunting expeditions to California, building new settlements at Yakutat and Sitka, or fighting battles with hostile Tlingit, most Russian manpower was always Natives, particularly Aleut and Alutiiq. 

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