Economic profile: Iqaluit, Nunavut
Overview
IqaluitFootnote 1 has a population of 7,429, consisting of 3.7% seniors (65 and older), 73% working-age adults (15 to 64) and 24% children (under 15).
The key sectors of the economy in Iqaluit, which account for 65% of the jobs in the region, are
- public administration
- health care and social assistance
- educational services
There are 3,915 employed residents, of which 16% are immigrants.Footnote 2
The economy generates a total of $852 million in household and business incomes, which amounts to $114,684 per resident.
General age structure – 2021
| In the region | In the territory | |
|---|---|---|
| % children (under 15) | 24% | 33% |
| % working-age adults (15 to 64) | 73% | 63% |
| % of seniors (65 and older) | 3.7% | 4.4% |
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. Iqaluit has more working-age adults than seniors compared to the average in Nunavut.
From 2011 to 2021, Iqaluit experienced
- an 11% increase in population, compared to a 16% increase in the territory
- a 50% increase in the population’s proportion of seniors, compared to a 31% increase in the territory
- a 1.6% decrease in the population’s proportion of working-age adults, compared to a 1.8% decrease in the territory
Population structure – Changes from 2011 to 2021
| Changes in the region | Changes in the territory | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | +11% | +16% |
| Proportion of children | -1.4% | +0.3% |
| Proportion of working-age adults | -1.6% | -1.8% |
| Proportion of seniors | +50% | +31% |
By 2031, without immigration,Footnote 3 the region could experienceFootnote 4
- a 13% increase in population
- a 9.5% 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 169%, potentially changing the demand for local services, including health care and long-term care
No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031
| Changes in the region | Changes in the territory | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | +13% | +17% |
| Proportion of children | +3.3% | -9.9% |
| Proportion of working-age adults | -9.5% | -0.1% |
| Proportion of seniors | +169% | +76% |
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, Iqaluit experienced
- a 7.5% increase in workforceFootnote 5 size, compared to a 6.6% increase in the territory
- a 110% increase in the number of immigrant workers, compared to a 91% increase in the territory
- a total of 482 retirements,Footnote 6 which amounts to 11% of the 2021 workforce, compared to 10% in the territory
- a change in the average income per resident from local jobs relative to the territory, which is 26% higher than the average in Nunavut in 2021
Economic changes from 2011 to 2021
| Changes in the region | Changes in the territory | |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce | +7.5% | +6.6% |
| Immigrant workers | +110% | +91% |
| Retirement as % of 2021 workforce | 11% | 10% |
| Wage income generated from jobsFootnote 7 | +47% | +42% |
By 2031, without immigration,Footnote 8 the region could experienceFootnote 9
- a 30% decrease in workforce size
- a 28% decrease in the number of jobs
- an increase in the proportion of seniors in the population from 3.7% to 10.0%
No immigration – Possible changes from 2021 to 2031
| Changes in the region | Changes in the territory | |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce | -30% | -16% |
| Retirement as % of 2031 workforce | 21% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | -28% | -3.5% |
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.
Iqaluit 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, 15% of Iqaluit’s population speaks French, with 5.8% speaking French as a first language and 9.2% as a second language.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are from the 2011, 2016, or 2021 editions of the Statistics Canada Census, and all calculations are from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis.
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