Employment

Yellowknife’s job market has gone through several major shifts over the last few decades, from its origins as a mining and exploration basecamp to its evolution into the seat of local government, and from the discovery of diamonds to the development of international aurora tourism. In this latest period, the winding down of the diamond mines and global commodity trends have left governments at all levels focusing on economic diversity, looking to develop and grow a variety of economic sectors, rather than ride the previous mainstays of resource development and government employment.

With territorial, federal, municipal and a variety of First Nations governments maintaining a presence in the city, government employment will always be a major employer in Yellowknife, but tourism is a rapidly growing sector, especially tourism catering to Asian markets.  

As a result, the current Yellowknife job market is fairly dynamic, even with the looming shutdown of the diamond mines — and the closure of Snap Lake the mine in 2016. For a more indepth look at the city’s economic profile and employment future, you can read the City of Yellowknife’s Economic Development Strategy Background Report. For more information about the NWT’s economic profile, you can read the NWT Jobs in Demand: 15-Year Forecast.

Some professions are regulated (health, engineering, etc) in Canada and in the NWT. You must check with local organizations for accreditation.

Knowledge of Canada’s two official languages is an asset.

Below you’ll find the best sources for current job openings in the city: