Business Dynamics & Ownership

Business dynamics shows the current and future health of the business sector. Statistics Canada releases monthly data on business openings and closures, as well as business conditions data four times a year. Business characteristics such ownership and size are also available from Statistics Canada.

Number of Active Business

Northwest Territories

Year Month Active Businesses
(V1203707728)		 Opening Businesses
(V1203707729)		 Continuing Businesses
(V1203707730)		 Closing Businesses
(V1203707731)
2026 Jun 1,016 64 953 44
May 997 55 941 60
Apr 997 57 937 54
Mar 992 51 940 44
Feb 988 52 935 48
Jan 984 47 933 49
Download XLSX

*This data has been seasonally adjusted so numbers may not sum to the total.

Downloadable Excel Tables:

  • Women and Indigenous Owned Businesses by PT
  • NWT Businesses by Number of Employees and Industry

The following Excel tables show selected results for the Northwest Territories from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions. This survey asked businesses across Canada about specific obstacles they expect to encounter in the next 3 months as well as their future operational expectations. Additional information can be found on Statistics Canada website.

Q1 2026 Business Conditions

  • All Tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3a - Level of impact of tariffs or trade barriers on businesses or organizations
  • Table 3b - Actions taken as a result of US tariffs over the last 12 months
  • Table 3c - Cost increases due to tariffs passed on to customers over the last 12 months
  • Table 3d - Likelihood to pass cost increases due to tariffs to their customers over the next 12 months
  • Table 4a - Changed marketing practices to promote Canadian products over the last 12 months
  • Table 4b - Experienced an increase in sales of Canadian products over the last 12 months
  • Table 5 - Business revenues in 2025 compared with 2024 revenues
  • Table 6 - Expected average wage change over the next 12 months
  • Table 7a - Skills that would have the greatest positive impact on business operations if improved
  • Table 7b - Actions taken by businesses or organizations to address employee skills gaps over the last 12 months
  • Table 8a - Adoption of new technologies over the last three years and employees' ability to adapt to new technologies
  • Table 8b - Businesses that did not adopt new technologies over the last three years
  • Table 9 - Businesses that experienced difficulties finding candidates who possess skills needed to do their job over the last 12 months
  • Table 10 - Future outlook of businesses or organizations over the next 12 months
  • Table 11 - Average percentage of women and men in management positions
Q4 2025 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Level of impact of tariffs or trade barriers on businesses or organizations
  • Table 4 - Planned actions as a result of US tariffs
  • Table 5 - Likelihood to pass cost increases due to tariffs to their customers over the next 12 months
  • Table 6 - Changed marketing practices to promote Canadian products over the last six months
  • Table 7 - Experienced an increase in sales of Canadian products over the last six months
  • Table 8 - Changed suppliers as a result of US tariffs over the last three months
  • Table 9 - Impact of natural disasters over the last 12 months
  • Table 10a - Expected average wage change over the next 12 months
  • Table 10b - Reasons for expecting an increase in average wages over the next 12 months
  • Table 11 - Impacts of interest rates
  • Table 11b - Aspect of the business or organization most impacted by interest rates
  • Table 12 - Future outlook of businesses or organizations over the next 12 months
Q3 2025 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Level of impact of tariffs or trade barriers on businesses or organizations
  • Table 4 - Planned actions as a result of US tariffs
  • Table 5 - Expected impacts of the new United States administration over the next 12 months
  • Table 6a - Length of time businesses can continue to operate if US tariffs remain at their current level
  • Table 6b - Length of time businesses can maintain current staffing levels if US tariffs remain at their current level
  • Table 7 - Negative consequences experienced due to the direct impact of tariffs on other businesses in the community
  • Table 8a - Cost increases due to tariffs passed on to customers over the last six months
  • Table 8b - Likelihood to pass cost increases due to tariffs to their customers over the next 12 months
  • Table 9 - Changed marketing practices to promote Canadian products over the last six months
  • Table 10 - Experienced an increase in sales of Canadian products over the last six months
  • Table 11 - Changed suppliers as a result of US tariffs over the last three months
  • Table 12 - Level of challenge for business to switch the main suppliers of its inputs
  • Table 13a - Use of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next 12 months
  • Table 13b - Reasons for not planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) over the next 12 months
  • Table 14 - Confidence level in ability to make payments to suppliers and service providers in full and on time
  • Table 15 - Future outlook of businesses or organizations over the next 12 months
Q2 2025 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Expected impacts of labour-related obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 4a - Percentage of sales made directly to clients/customers in the United States over the last 12 months
  • Table 4b - Percentage of purchases made directly from suppliers in the United States over the last 12 months
  • Table 4c - Level of impact of tariffs or trade barriers on businesses or organizations
  • Table 4d - Actions taken over the last three months to mitigate risks associated with any tariffs applied by the United States on imports from Canada
  • Table 4e - Expected impacts of the new United States administration over the next 12 months
  • Table 5 - Primary factor limiting business' or organizations' growth
  • Table 6 - Business' or organizations' primary focus over the next 12 months
  • Table 7a - Importance of digital infrastructure investments for business' or organizations' operations
  • Table 7b - Status of investments in digital infrastructure over the past three years
  • Table 7c - Primary barrier to adopting new or additional digital infrastructure in businesses or organizations
  • Table 7d - Technologies businesses or organizations plan to adopt or incorporate over the next 12 months
  • Table 7e - Challenges faced by businesses or organizations when adopting or incorporating technologies
  • Table 8 - Future outlook of businesses or organizations over the next 12 months
Q1 2025 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3a - Business revenue in 2024 compared with 2023 revenue
  • Table 3b - Percentage and average percentage of total sales made online in 2024
  • Table 4 - Change in average wages expected by businesses over the next 12 months
  • Table 5 - Extent availability or cost of housing affected business' or organization's ability to recruit new employees over the last 12 months
  • Table 6 - Types of disruptions which impacted the ability of the business or organization to acquire inputs, products or supplies from Canada or abroad over the last 12 months
  • Table 7 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
  • Table 8 - Average percentage of women and men in management positions
Q4 2024 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3a - Expected average wage change over the next 12 months
  • Table 3b - Reasons for expecting an increase in average wages over the next 12 months
  • Table 4a - Level of impact interest rates have on the business or organization
  • Table 4b - Aspect of the business or organization most impacted by interest rates
  • Table 5 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q3 2024 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Expected obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle expected over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Average yearly revenue growth expected over the next 3 years
  • Table 4 - Plans to take any new or additional cybersecurity actions over the next 12 months
  • Table 5 - Use of artificial intelligence (AI) in producing goods or delivering services over the next 12 months
  • Table 6a - Environmental practices in place
  • Table 6b - Plans to implement environmental practices over the next 12 months
  • Table 7 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q2 2024 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle for the business or organization over the next three months
  • Table 2c - Expected impacts of labour-related obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Impact of natural disasters or weather related emergencies over the last 12 months
  • Table 4 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q1 2024 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle for the business or organization over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Business revenues in 2023 compared with 2022 revenues
  • Table 4 - Percentage and average percentage of total sales made online in 2023s
  • Table 5 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q4 2023 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2a - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 2b - Most challenging obstacle for the business or organization over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Percentage of employees fully proficient in terms of skills needed in the business or organization
  • Table 4 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q3 2023 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Most challenging obstacle for the business or organization over the next three months
  • Table 4a - Business or organization expectations of how long supply chain obstacles will last
  • 4b - Business or organization change in supply chain challenges over the last three months
  • 4c - Business or organization expectations of change in supply chain challenges over the next three months
  • Table 5a - Business or organization interprovincial activities conducted within Canada over the last 12 months
  • 5b - Business purchasing or selling across provincial and territorial borders over the last 12 months, obstacles
  • 5c - Business purchasing or selling across provincial and territorial borders over the last 12 months, impact of obstacles
  • Table 6a - Environmental practices businesses or organizations have in place
  • 6b - Environmental practices businesses or organizations plan to implement over the next 12 months
  • 6c - Barriers businesses or organizations may face in adopting more green practices over the next 12 months
  • Table 7a - Payment methods currently accepted or planned to be accepted over the next 12 months by businesses or organizations
  • 7b - Reasons business or organization does not accept certain payment methods
  • Table 8a - Business' or organization's plans to take any new or additional cybersecurity actions over the next 12 months
  • 8b - Forms of misinformation or disinformation business or organization has been a victim of over the last 12 months
  • 8c - Actions taken by businesses or organizations to reduce the impact of misinformation or disinformation on operations
  • Table 9 - Liquidity and access to liquidity over the next three months
  • Table 10 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q2 2023 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • 2a - Most challenging obstacle for the business or organization over the next three months
  • 2b - Business or organization expected impacts of labour-related obstacles over the next three months
  • 2c - Businesses Citing Supply Chain Challenges as an Obstacle, Length of Time
  • 2d - Businesses Citing Supply Chain Challenges as an Obstacle, Change in Challenges Over the last three month
  • 2e - Businesses Citing Supply Chain Challenges as an Obstacle, Expectations
  • 2f - Businesses Citing Supply Chain Challenges as an Obstacle, Plans to Adjust Supply Chain Over the next 12 months
  • 2g - Businesses Citing Supply Chain Challenges as an Obstacle, Response to Expected Difficulties Maintaining Inventory Levels
  • Table 3 - Business or organization hired workers from another country through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in the last 12 months
  • Table 4 - Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months
  • Table 5 - Liquidity and access to liquidity over the next three months
  • Table 6 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q1 2023 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • 2a - Expectations over the next three months as a result of increased interest rates
  • 2b - Level of impact of challenges with recruiting and retaining staff over the next three months
  • 2c - Business or organization expectations of how long supply chain obstacles will last
  • 2d - Business or organization change in supply chain challenges over the last three months
  • 2e - Business or organization expectations of change in supply chain challenges over the next three months
  • Table 8 - The 2022 revenues compared with 2021 revenues
  • Table 9 - Percentage and average percentage of total sales made online in 2022
  • Table 10 - Expectations to increase prices for goods and services offered by business or organization over the next 12 months
  • Table 11 - Change in average wages expected over the next 12 months
  • Table 12 - Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months
  • Table 13 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
  • Table 14 - Average percentage of women and men in management positions
Q4 2022 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Business or organization challenges with recruiting and retaining staff compared with 12 months ago
  • Table 4 - Business or organization expectations of how long supply chain obstacles will last
  • Table 5 - Business or organization change in supply chain challenges over the last three months
  • Table 6 - Business or organization expectations of change in supply chain challenges over the next three months
  • Table 7 - Business or organization plans to adjust supply chain over the next 12 months
  • Table 8 - Business' or organization's response to expected difficulties maintaining inventory levels
  • Table 9 - Likelihood of business or organization to pass on any increases in its costs to customers over the next 12 months
  • Table 10 - Change in average wages expected over the next 12 months
  • Table 11 - Extent the business or organization considers inflation when setting wages and salaries
  • Table 12 - Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months
  • Table 13 - Ability for the business or organization to take on more debt
  • Table 14 - Current debt level of business or organization compared to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Table 15 - Expected level of challenge business or organization has in repaying funding received from repayable government support programs put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Table 16 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q3 2022 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Business or organization challenges with recruiting and retaining staff compared with 12 months ago
  • Table 4 - Business or organization expectations of how long supply chain obstacles will last
  • Table 5 - Business or organization change in supply chain challenges over the last three months
  • Table 6 - Business or organization expectations of change in supply chain challenges over the next three months
  • Table 7 - Business or organization plans to adjust supply chain over the next 12 months
  • Table 8 - Interprovincial activities conducted over the last 12 months
  • Table 9 - Provinces businesses or organizations directly exported or imported goods or services to or from over the last 12 months
  • Table 10 - Environmental practices currently in place or to be implemented by businesses or organizations over the next 12 months
  • Table 11 - Languages used by the business or organization in providing services or performing activities over the last 12 months
  • Table 12 - Level of challenge in meeting an increase in demand for the business or organization over the next 3 months
  • Table 13 - Average yearly growth expected by businesses or organizations over the next three years
  • Table 14 - Reasons business or organization is not expecting any growth over the next three years
  • Table 15 - Ability for the business or organization to take on more debt
  • Table 16 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
Q2 2022 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Business or organization expected impacts of labour-related obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 4 - Business or organization challenges with recruiting and retaining staff compared with 12 months ago
  • Table 5 - Business or organization expectations of how long supply chain obstacles will last
  • Table 6 - Business or organization change in supply chain challenges over the last three months
  • Table 7 - Business or organization expectations of change in supply chain challenges over the next three months
  • Table 8 - Regions business or organization sourced inputs, products or supplies from over the last 12 months
  • Table 9 - Business or organization plans to adjust supply chain over the next 12 months, by business characteristic
  • Table 10 - Business or organization expectations of increases in energy expenses over the next three months
  • Table 11 - Business or organization expectations of inflation to be a bigger issue when discussing wage increases with employees over the next 12 months
  • Table 12 - Percentage and average percentage of total sales made online in 2021
  • Table 13 - Investments in online sales and e-commerce capabilities over the next 12 months
  • Table 14 - Business' or organization's plans to take any new or additional cybersecurity actions over the next 12 months
  • Table 15 - New goods or services innovations, or any new business process innovations introduced since 2020
  • Table 16 - Business or organization introducing innovations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the conditions it caused since 2020
  • Table 17 - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business' or organization's activities related to innovation
  • Table 18 - Ability for the business or organization to take on more debt
  • Table 19 - Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months
  • Table 20 - Average percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months
  • Table 21 - Business' or organization's current overall position compared with 2019
Q1 2022 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next three months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next three months
  • Table 3 - Business or organization expectations of how long various obstacles will last
  • Table 4 - Change in supply chain challenges over the last three months, first quarter of 2022
  • Table 5 - Business or organization expectations of supply chain challenges over the next three months
  • Table 6 - Strategies business or organization uses to address supply chain challenges
  • Table 7 - Business or organization plans to adjust supply chain over the next 12 months
  • Table 8 - Likelihood of business or organization to pass on any increases in its costs to customers over the next 12 months
  • Table 9 - Change in average wages expected over the next 12 months
  • Table 10 - Average change in average wages expected over the next 12 months
  • Table 11 - Plans regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months
  • Table 12 - Liquidity and access to liquidity over the next three months
  • Table 13 - Ability for the business or organization to take on more debt
  • Table 14 - Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months
  • Table 15 - Average percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months
  • Table 16 - Technology as a limiting factor in having more employees work remotely over the next three months
  • Table 17 - Plans to adopt new or additional digital technologies over the next 12 months
  • Table 18 - Future outlook for the business or organization over the next 12 months
  • Table 19 - Revenues from 2021 compared with 2019
  • Table 20 - Percentage of women and men in management positions
  • Table 21 - Average percentage of women and men in management positions
Q4 2021 Business Conditions
  • All tables
  • Table 1 - Business or organization expectations over the next 3 months
  • Table 2 - Business or organization obstacles over the next 3 months
  • Table 3 - Business or organization expectations of how long various obstacles will last
  • Table 4 - Percentage of import purchases digitally ordered in the last 12 months
  • Table 5 - Business or organization plans regarding recruitment, retention and training
  • Table 6 - Expected impact of the absence of government support programs on the survival of business or organization
  • Table 7 - Expected level of challenge business or organization has in repaying funding received from repayable government support programs put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Table 8 - Liquidity and access to liquidity over the next three months
  • Table 9 - Ability for the business or organization to take on more debt
  • Table 10 - Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or telework over the next three months
  • Table 11 - Business or organization status on reviewing cybersecurity policies in response to employees working remotely
  • Table 12 - Average percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or telework over the next three months
  • Table 13 - Future outlook over the next 12 months
  • Table 14 - Sales expectations from October to December 2021 compared with October to December 2019
Updated: Wed, 09/16/2026 - 14:08