This as the 2010 Census for American Samoa shows a 3 percent decline between 2000 and 2010.
The Department of Commerce’s director, Faleseu Eliu Paopao, said reduced federal funding is expected once stimulus and tsunami recover funding ends.
Faleseu said these funds did a lot to reduce the impact of the job losses from the Samoa Packing closure, and their loss may create a real economic challenge.
He said the territory is now engaged in an economic recovery strategy to stop the decline in employment and government revenues.
The strategy includes an analysis of federal minimum wage policy, diversification of the fishing industry, tourism expansion, improved training of workforce, and other initiatives.
He said more attention is being devoted to creating jobs based on local resources, and equipping local workers to fill those jobs rather than depending on foreign employees.
