Labour Force Activity
The labour market provides an indication of how many people are employed or unemployed among the working age population. This information may assist in policy and program planning as well as educational and career decisions.
Information on labour market activity for the Northwest Territories overall, is available monthly and annually from Statistics Canada’s Monthly Labour Force Survey. Community level information is available every 2 to 3 years from the Census and from the NWT Community Survey.
NWT Labour Force Activity
Rates - %, Labour Force Activity - Thousands of Persons
| Year | Month | Participation Rate (V46438892) |
Employment Rate (V46438904) |
Unemployment Rate (V46438880) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sep | 73.0 | 68.8 | 5.8 |
| Aug | 76.1 | 70.5 | 7.4 | |
| Jul | 75.6 | 69.7 | 7.8 | |
| Jun | 73.3 | 67.4 | 8.0 | |
| May | 71.3 | 65.9 | 7.9 | |
| Apr | 70.3 | 65.5 | 6.8 |
| Year | Month | Population 15 & Over (V46438814) |
Labour Force (V46438826) |
Employed (V46438838) |
Unemployed (V46438862) |
Not in Labour Force (V46438873) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sep | 35.6 | 26.0 | 24.5 | 1.5 | 9.6 |
| Aug | 35.6 | 27.1 | 25.1 | 2.0 | 8.6 | |
| Jul | 35.6 | 26.9 | 24.8 | 2.1 | 8.8 | |
| Jun | 35.6 | 26.1 | 24.0 | 2.1 | 9.5 | |
| May | 35.5 | 25.3 | 23.4 | 2.0 | 10.2 | |
| Apr | 35.4 | 24.9 | 23.2 | 1.7 | 10.5 |
Publications
Labour Force Survey information released by Statistics Canada today estimates the Northwest Territories’ (NWT) employment rate fell between August and September 2026 from 70.5% to 68.8%. This monthly decline is in line with historic patterns of higher rates over the summer months followed by lower rates in the fall and winter.
PDF • 300.68KB • Issued October 9, 2026
Monthly Data Tables
XLSX • 337.69KB • Issued June 30, 2026
Annual Data Tables
- Table LFS101: Labour force activity by sex, age, ethnicity, geography, education, 2001-2024
- Table LFS102: Employment by industry, occupation, class of worker, full time or part time, 2001-2024
- Table LFS103: Employment rates by highest level of schooling, sex, ethnicity and region, 2006-2024
Table LFS104: Labour force activity by province or territory, 2001 to 2024
- Notes & Definitions on the Monthly Labour Force Survey
Census & NWT Community Survey Data Tables
- Table LFS105: Community Labour Force Activity, 1986 to 2024
- Table LFS107: Labour Force Activity by Education, 2011 to 2024
- Table LFS108: Labour Force Activity by Work Activity and Community, 2011 & 2021
- Table LFS109: Labour Force by Detailed Industry and Gender, 2011 & 2021
- Table LFS110: Labour Force Activity by Occupation and Gender, 2011 to 2021
- Table LFS111: Non-Resident Workers, 2011