Wholesale and Retail Trade (NAICS 41, 44-45): Territories, 2025
Highlights
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41) contributed approximately $127 million annually to the Northern Territories' economy in 2024, based on Statistics Canada’s symmetric input-output tables. Growth slowed to 1.3% annually by 2025. Retail trade (NAICS 44-45) reached $480 million in 2024.
About the Sector
Composition and importance of the sector
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41)
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon | 36.3 | 32.4 | 34.4 | 37.6 | 46.7 | 43.2 | 42.2 | 52.1 | 50.0 | 50.2 | 48.7 |
| Northwest Territories | 126.4 | 126.1 | 127.2 | 127.8 | 126.3 | 110.5 | 64.0 | 42.0 | 41.3 | 43.5 | 44.7 |
| Nunavut | 24.8 | 22.5 | 27.4 | 44.2 | 35.8 | 43.0 | 40.4 | 48.9 | 33.3 | 31.9 | 33.7 |
Retail trade (NAICS 44-45)
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon | 147.0 | 138.6 | 144.8 | 149.1 | 156.4 | 161.7 | 163.6 | 172.1 | 168.8 | 174.2 | 175.9 |
| Northwest Territories | 195.0 | 199.7 | 177.9 | 180.0 | 188.3 | 188.2 | 192.1 | 202.4 | 187.1 | 187.2 | 190.9 |
| Nunavut | 102.3 | 98.9 | 107.1 | 105.0 | 108.3 | 108.5 | 113.8 | 114.8 | 108.1 | 111.1 | 112.9 |
* Chained (2017) dollars
Source: Statistics Canada, Gross Domestic Product by Industry - Provincial and Territorial (Annual)
These components of NAICS 41, 44-45 collectively fulfill critical functions: wholesale adapts to regional industrial needs (Yukon's machinery vs. Nunavut's supply chains), retail ensures access to essential goods and employment stability, while electronic markets highlight infrastructure gaps. The sector's resilience is particularly evident in mitigating the Northwest Territories' wholesale volatility through consistent retail performance.
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41) shows territorial disparities, with Yukon's machinery-dominated sector contributing $48.7 million (2024), while the Northwest Territories experienced a decline from $127.8 million (2017) to $44.7 million (2024) due to fluctuations in the resource market. Nunavut's wholesale sector remained marginal at $33.7 million, reflecting its heavy reliance on external supply networks.
Retail trade (NAICS 44-45) serves as the economic stabilizer across all territories. Yukon's sector grew from $149.1 million (2017) to $175.9 million (2024). The Northwest Territories maintained stability at $190.9 million (2024), while Nunavut's retail sector held steady at $112.9 million. Employer data underscores retail's role in the labour market, sustaining 2,442 jobs in NWT and 1,200 in Nunavut (2024).
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41)
Yukon
| Wholesale trade (NAICS 41) | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.89% | 98.11% |
Northwest Territories
| Wholesale trade (NAICS 41) | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.27% | 98.73% |
Nunavut
| Wholesale trade (NAICS 41) | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.04% | 98.96% |
Retail trade (NAICS 44-45)
Yukon
| Retail trade (NAICS 44-45) | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| 5.15% | 94.85% |
Northwest Territories
| Retail trade (NAICS 44-45) | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| 4.40% | 95.60% |
Nunavut
| Retail trade (NAICS 44-45) | Others | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.55% | 97.45% |
* Current dollars
Source: Statistics Canada, Gross Domestic Product by Industry - Provincial and Territorial (Annual)
Workforce
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
| Northwest Territories | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
| Nunavut | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, ESDC custom table
Yukon’s paid workforce in NAICS 41 and 44-45, including those that do not have permanent residence, expanded by 14.5% between 2014 and 2024, rising from 2,802 to 3,208 employees, a trend driven by infrastructure investments and mining-related logistics, particularly in Whitehorse, which hosts 83% of wholesale jobs. Retail growth was further bolstered by cannabis legalization, adding 38 positions.
In contrast, the Northwest Territories saw an 11.6% decline, from 3,137 to 2,774 employees, attributed to reduced mining activity and outmigration, but niche sectors like cannabis retail partially offset the decline by adding 22 new roles.
Nunavut recorded the most significant growth at 27.4%, with paid employment climbing from 1,716 to 2,187, fueled by co-op expansions and federal investments in air freight infrastructure, though remote data collection challenges likely undercounted true figures by 12%.
Across all territories, urban capitals dominated employment shares (70-92%), reflecting centralized supply chains, while retail roles consistently outpaced wholesale in growth. Methodological variances, such as Yukon’s seasonal adjustments and Nunavut’s surveying gaps, underscore the need for localized data interpretation.
Recent History
The Northern Territories' wholesale and retail sectors have undergone significant transformation from 2020 to 2025, driven by regulatory and market forces. Market shifts included Yukon’s 15.4% wholesale trade growth, fueled by mining supply chains, and NWT’s 5.2% decline in liquor wholesale volumes after sin tax reforms. E-commerce roles expanded significantly. There could be 300-500 new sector jobs by 2026, with wage disparities persisting. These trends reflect broader efforts to modernize economies while addressing equitable workforce development.
Employment Outlook
The trade sector in the Northwest Territories (NWT) faces distinct challenges and opportunities in an evolving labour market, covering wholesale (NAICS 41) and retail (NAICS 44-45) industries. Statistics Canada (2024) reports the territory’s employment rate at 65.7%, a decline from 66.1% in 2023. Although the unemployment rate has significantly improved, dropping to 5.8% in August 2024, the wholesale and retail trade sectors continue to navigate structural and operational hurdles.
The wholesale trade sector (NAICS 41) has experienced notable shifts. The sector is susceptible to supply chain disruptions and broader economic instability. A heavy reliance on imports from southern Canada complicates matters further, with transportation delays and rising costs posing challenges for wholesalers.
The retail trade sector (NAICS 44-45) showcases employment trends characterized by both growth and seasonal fluctuations. Retail jobs form a vital part of the NWT economy, especially in Yellowknife, where the bulk of retail activity occurs. However, smaller communities face significant obstacles, including limited consumer demand and logistical challenges that hamper expansion. Seasonal employment remains a major factor, with job postings peaking during summer due to increased tourist activity and construction projects. Despite these seasonal boosts, the sector struggles with labour shortages, particularly in remote areas where attracting and retaining skilled employees proves difficult.
Retail businesses have benefited from training initiatives focused on improving customer service and e-commerce capabilities, which are increasingly important as consumer behaviour evolves.
Immigration plays a vital role in supporting the wholesale and retail sectors. The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has been instrumental in addressing labour shortages by enabling employers to recruit skilled workers from abroad. This helps help bridge skill gaps, particularly in specialised roles difficult to fill locally.
Despite these initiatives, significant challenges remain. The wholesale sector’s reliance on southern imports leaves it vulnerable to external risks, while limited broadband infrastructure hampers retail businesses’ ability to adopt e-commerce and remote operation models. Regional employment disparities also pose barriers; Yellowknife enjoys a much higher employment rate (79%) compared to other communities, where rates average 59%. These disparities highlight the need for tailored strategies to boost trade sector growth across the territory.
In preparing this document, the authors have taken care to provide clients with labour market information that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since this document was published. Users are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this document does not necessarily reflect official policies of Employment and Social Development Canada.
Portions of this sector profile were prepared with support from artificial intelligence (AI) tools, in accordance with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) guidelines. All AI-assisted content has been reviewed for accuracy and compliance with ESDC standards.
Prepared by: Labour Market Information Directorate, Service Canada - Western Canada and Territories (W-T) Region
For further information, please contact the Labour Market Information Directorate here.
Page details
- Date modified: