Economic profile: Whitehorse (CA), Yukon

Overview

Whitehorse^{Footnote 1} has a population of 31,913, consisting of 14% seniors (65 and older), 69% working-age adults (15 to 64) and 17% children (under 15).

The key sectors of the economy in Whitehorse, which account for 49% of the jobs in the region, are

• public administration
• health care and social assistance
• retail trade

There are 18,035 employed residents, of which 18% are immigrants.^{Footnote 2}

The economy generates a total of $2.3 billion in household and business incomes, which amounts to $71,107 per resident.

General age structure – 2021

Sustainability

In order to support local services such as health care and social programs and maintain a good standard of living for everyone in the region, it is essential to have more working-age adults than seniors. Whitehorse has more working-age adults than seniors compared to the average in Yukon.

From 2011 to 2021, Whitehorse experienced

• a 23% increase in population, compared to a 19% increase in the territory
• a 68% increase in the population’s proportion of seniors, compared to a 64% increase in the territory
• a 7.3% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, compared to a 7.6% decrease in the territory

Population structure – Changes from 2011 to 2021

By 2031, without immigration,^{Footnote 3} the region could experience^{Footnote 4}

• a 2.9% increase in population
• a 7.0% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, which could limit the availability and quality of local services
• a further increase in the population’s proportion of seniors by 44%, potentially changing the demand for local services, including health care and long-term care

No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031

Prosperity

The region relies heavily on working-age adults to keep local services running smoothly and to maintain a good standard of living and economic growth. Immigrants can help by filling job gaps and bringing new skills and ideas, which keeps the local economy strong.

From 2011 to 2021, Whitehorse experienced

• a 15% increase in workforce^{Footnote 5} size, compared to a 11% increase in the territory
• a 49% increase in the number of immigrant workers, compared to an increase of 42% in the territory
• a total of 3,029 retirements,^{Footnote 6} which amounts to 16% of the 2021 workforce, compared to 17% in the territory
• a change in the average income per resident from local jobs relative to the territory, which is 1.4% higher than the average in Yukon in 2021

Economic changes from 2011 to 2021

By 2031, without immigration,^{Footnote 8} the region could experience^{Footnote 9}

• a 36% decrease in workforce size
• a 36% decrease in the number of jobs
• an increase in the proportion of seniors in the population from 14% to 20%

No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031

Supporting the community’s French-speaking population

Francophone immigration outside Quebec plays an important role in enhancing the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities across the country.

Whitehorse is part of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This initiative supports the economic and socio-cultural integration of French-speaking newcomers.

In total, 16% of Whitehorse’s population speaks French, with 4.7% speaking French as a first language and 11% as a second language.

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