Government of Yukon

Economic Statistics

employment | population | prices | sales | construction | real-estate | tourism

This page contains as summary of Yukon Economic Data. For more detailed information please contact economics@gov.yk.ca or visit the Yukon Bureau of Statistics website.


Employment: October 2009

Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
Labour Force: 17,500
Employed: 16,400
Unemployed: 1,100

The seasonally adjusted Yukon labour force was 17,500 in October 2009, down 100 from September 2009 and down 600 from October 2008.

In addition:

  • The number of people employed in the territory decreased by 100 from the previous month and decreased by 800 from one year ago to 16,400.
  • The number of unemployed in October 2009 remained unchanged from September but was 200 above the number in October last year at 1,100.
  • The unemployment rate in October 2009 was 6.3%; unchanged from September 2009 but up by 1.3% from October 2008.


National Statistics

  • Canada: 8.6%
  • Canada High: Newfoundland and Labrador 17.0%
  • Canada Low: Saskatchewan 5.3%

 

Yukon Bureau of Statistics employment reports can be found here.

top

 

Population: June 2009

June 2009: 34,157
December 2008: 33,928
June 2008: 33,294

2008 Annual Avg. Population: 33,378
2007 Annual Avg. Population: 32,276
2006 Annual Avg. Population: 31,803
2005 Annual Avg. Population: 31,240
2004 Annual Avg. Population: 30,627
2003 Annual Avg. Population: 29,967

The Yukon’s population increased in June 2009, rising by 863 persons (2.6%) from June 2008.

The increase in the population in the last year was largely due to a 746 person increase in the number of people in Whitehorse to 25,637 (3.0%) and a 32 person increase in Marsh Lake to 442 (+7.8%)

Other communities experienced an increase in population over the last year:

  • Carmacks increased by 27 to 480
  • Teslin increased by 21 to 470
  • Faro increased by 19 to 404
  • Pelly Crossing increased by 16 to 324
  • Carcross increased by 15 to 446
  • Dawson City increased by 15 to 1,904
  • Haines Junction increased by 10 to 828
  • Burwash Landing increased by 5 to 106
  • Tagish increased by 5 to 225
  • Old Crow increased by 2 to 250
  • Mayo increased by 1 to 461

Communities that showed a decrease  in population in the last year:

  • Watson Lake decreased by 35 to 1,561
  • Ross River decreased by 8 to 375
  • Beaver Creek decreased by 2 to 104
  • Destruction Bay decreased by 1 to 48
  • 'Other' Yukon Communities also recorded a net loss of 5 persons

Yukon Bureau of Statistics population reports can be found here.

top

 

Prices: September 2009

Consumer Price Index
Whitehorse: 113.7 (-1.0%)
Canada: 114.7 (-0.9%)

On a monthly basis, in Whitehorse (figures for Yukon are not available) overall prices decreased 0.4% from August 2009 to September 2009.

In terms of the major contributors to the Whitehorse monthly All-items CPI change, increases were seen in the following CPI commodities: (x: not published/confidential)

  • fuel oil and other fuels (8.3%)
  • cablevision and satellite services (9.1%)
  • personal care supplies and equipment (5.0%)

Some of the major decreases offsetting monthly increases were:

  • furniture (13.4%)
  • purchase and leasing of passenger vehicles (2.4%)
  • traveller accommodation (5.6%)

On an annual basis, in Whitehorse (figures for Yukon are not available) overall prices decreased 1.0% from September 2008 to September 2009.

In terms of the major contributors to the change in the Whitehorse annual All-items CPI , increases were seen in the following CPI commodities: (x: not published/confidential) 

  • rent (x)
  • replacement cost (x)
  • inter-city transportation (4.0%)

Offsetting some of these annual increases were decreases in:

  • gasoline (26.0%)
  • fuel oil and other fuels (29.8%)
  • electricity (14.4%)

PEI experienced the lowest inflation rates in September 2009 at -1.4%. The highest inflation rate was observed in Iqaluit where prices increased by 1.2% on an annual basis.

Overall, consumer prices increased by 3.6% in Whitehorse in 2008 and has averaged 0.8% in 2009 year-to-date.

 


Yukon Bureau of Statistics consumer price index reports can be found here.

 

 

top

 

Retail and Wholesale Sales: August 2009

Retail Sales
August 2009: $50.4 million
July 2009: $50.0 million
August 2008: $50.0 million

Wholesale Sales
August 2009: $12.7 million
July 2009: $13.6 million
August 2008: $13.9 million

Preliminary retail sales figures (not seasonally adjusted) for August 2008 increased to $50.4 million; 1.0% above the level recorded in August 2008.

The largest increase in retail trade was recorded in food and beverage store sales which grew by 3.8% from the same month in the previous year to $15.2 million.  "Other" retail store sales also showed a year over year increase of 2.9%, totally $17.8 million in August 2009

The decrease in automotive sales moderated in August 2009, decreasing by 3.3% over August 2008 to $15.9 million. In addition, clothing and accessories stores sales decreased by 3.4% to $1.5 million.

Year-to-date retail sales in Yukon are 5.3% below the level in the same period in 2008, currently totaling $336.3 million.

Yukon Bureau of Statistics retail trade reports can be found here.

 

top

 

Construction: October 2009

Yukon Building Permits Value (number)
Total: $19.1 million (206)
Residential: $5.8 million (154)
Commercial: $1.6 million (16)
Industrial: $5.4 million (6)
Institutional: $6.3 million (30)

The number of building permits issued in October 2009 (206) was less than the 187 issued in October 2008 but the value of those permits increased to $19.1 million. (+236.8%)

Specifically:

  • The value of residential permits increased by 64.4% in October 09 from the year previous to $5.8 million. Thirty four new dwelling units were permitted in Whitehorse and seven were permitted outside the territorial capital.
  • There were 6 industrial permits issued in October 09 totaling $5.4 million compared to five totaling $1.2 million in the same month last year.
  • Thirty institutional permits were issued in October 2009 totaling $6.3 million compared to seven totaling $625 thousand in October 2008.
  • The value of commercial building permits issued in October 09 increased to  $1.6 million (16 permits) from $383 thousand (9 permits) in the same month last year.

Year-to-date value of building permits in the territory is 125.7% higher than the same period in 2008.

Specifically:

  • Total: $137.3 million (+125.7%)
  • Residential: $32.8 million (-16.8%)
  • Industrial: $16.7 million (+371.9%)
  • Commercial: $12.4 million (+6.5%)
  • Institutional: $75.4 million (+968.0%)

Building permits totalled $71.5 million in 2008 compared to $96.9  million in 2007.

 

top

 

Real-Estate

Rental (Whitehorse - September 2009)
Vacancy Rate: 2.6%
Median Rent: $750

Sales (Yukon 2009 Quarter 2)
Total Value of Sales: $49.9 million
Average Selling Price (Whitehorse): $319,600

The value of real estate transactions in the Yukon for the second quarter of 2009 increased by $1,282,200, or 2.6%, compared with the second quarter of 2008. The total value of real estate transactions in the second quarter of 2008 was $48,643,000 while the value of real estate transactions in the second quarter of 2009 was $49,925,200.

The average single house price (does not include duplexes, condos or mobile homes) in Whitehorse decreased by $15,300, or 4.6%, comparing the second quarter of 2008 ($334,900) to the second quarter of 2009 ($319,600).

 

Yukon Bureau of Statistics real-estate reports can be found here.

 

top

 

Tourism

Border Crossings (Jan - Sept 09)
Total: 343,666
Yukon Residents: 35,202
Other Canadian: 28,224
US Residents: 253,017
Foreign Residents: 27,223

Year to date order crossings into Yukon decreased by 8.1% over January - September 2008. When factoring out Yukon residents, the decrease was 8.8%.

Specifically

  • Other Canadians: +12.4%
  • Yukon Residents: -1.8%
  • US Travellers: -10.4%
  • Foreign Travellers: -11.4%