Canadian territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut), March 2026 - Job market snapshot

From February 2026 to March 2026, combined employment across the three territories increased 0.6% (+400) to 65,000. Employment decreased by 0.3% (-200) between March 2025 and March 2026. Year-over-year employment gains in the goods-producing sector were offset by losses in the services-producing sector. The unemployment rate in the combined territories increased 1.9 percentage points to 6.6% from March 2025 to March 2026.

The territories’ job market by the numbers

Territories
Working population
Unemployment rate
Yukon

27,200

Up 1.1% since February

3.9%

Down 0.0 pts since February

Northwest Territories

23,000

Down -0.4% since February

6.1%

Up 0.8 pts since February

Nunavut

14,800

Up 1.4% since February

12.1%

Up 1.3 pts since February

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0292-01 - Labour force characteristics by territory, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months

Industries in focus

Construction

Number of jobs increased 18.4%

March 20253,800

March 20264,500

Employment in the territories’ construction sector increased considerably rom March 2025 to in March 2026, rising 18.4% (+700). Looking ahead, the federal government launched the Build Communities Strong Fund in early April, allocating $51B to support infrastructure nationwide over the next decade, with $136.7M going to projects in the territories. The projects include water infrastructure upgrades in Iqaluit and Hay River and the construction of a bike path from Whistle Bend to Whitehorse.

Information, culture and recreation

Number of jobs decreased -4.5%

March 20252,200

March 20262,100

Territorial employment in the Information, culture and recreation sector fell 4.5% (-100) from March 2025 to March 2026. The federal government is allocating $14.3M to support over two dozen Yukon organizations and First Nations with arts, culture, and language programming. Most of the funding will go towards language initiatives, including over $9M for Indigenous language revitalization and just under $3M for French language programming.

Health care and social assistance

Number of jobs increased 9.6%

March 20259,400

March 202610,300

Employment in the territories’ health care and social assistance sector increased by 9.6% (+900) from March 2025 to March 2026. BYTE–Empowering Youth and the Territorial Youth Collective have received $6.64M in federal funding to create an integrated youth services hub in Yukon. The hub will provide a range of services for youth aged 12 to 30, while also providing mobile services to reach other communities outside the area. Initial steps include securing a physical location for the facility and staffing essential roles.

Note: Combined seasonally unadjusted data based on a three-month moving average

Source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey - Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) custom tables

A closer look at the territories

Yukon Territory

Employment in the Yukon increased 0.7% (+200) from March 2025 to March 2026. Fuerte Metals has begun equipment staging for a 214km, $77M all‑season access road to the Coffee Gold mine in the Yukon. The company is still awaiting permits for both the mine and the road but expects approval by spring, with mine construction anticipated to begin by 2027. At peak construction, the project is expected to create more than 650 jobs. What else is happening in this region?

Northwest Territories

Year-over-year, Northwest Territories’ employment fell by 3.8% (-900) in March 2026. The federal government is investing $35B over the next decade to support Arctic defence and Northern infrastructure including the forward operating location in Yellowknife. The funding will go towards building military air bases, improving defence facilities, and upgrading airports. Additionally, three Northwest Territories projects have been recommended to the Major Projects Office: Mackenzie Valley Highway, Arctic Economic Security Corridor, and Taltson Hydro Expansion. What else is happening in this region?

Nunavut

In March 2026, employment in Nunavut increased 3.5% (+500) year-over-year. The federal government is providing over $86M to a Northwestel-Telesat project to deliver unlimited high-speed Internet to 25 communities in Nunavut. The initiative aims to provide reliable connectivity to rural, remote, and northern communities while enhancing access to online resources and helping bridge the digital divide across the North and Arctic regions. What else is happening in this region?

Last data refresh: 2026-04-16

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