The capital of the CNMI is on the island of Saipan, with a total land area of 471 km 2 spread unevenly between 14 high islands. Three islands, Saipan, Rota and Tinian are populated and served by commercial air craft, though the later two have considerably less infrastructure than the first. Non-resident aliens make up more than half the labor force and tend to work in the garment, tourist and construction industries. The Commonwealth's economy is tightly linked to Japan. CNMI law limits land ownership to person of CNMI descent.
Government is the single largest employer on the three islands.