The Yukon is the territory of Canada that is furthest west and is the smallest of the federal territories. The capital city is Whitehorse and the region is one of the least populated, mainly due to the Arctic climate. Other urban areas include Dawson, Watson Lake and Haines Junction. The majority of towns have less than 500 residents. There are long winters which are extremely cold, short mild summers and there is very little rain.

Most of the 30,000 inhabitants are English speaking, with small French, German and Chinese speaking communities. There are a number of expats already living in the region and immigration is being encouraged as the region continues to develop. Most of these are from European and Asian countries.

Yukon – Employment

The major industry in the Yukon is mining. Mines have been worked for lead, silver, gold and copper and the industry is still strong in the area. Those who have mining experience will find it easier to find work in the region but the opportunities do not come along regularly. Tourism is the second largest industry in the region as the area is popular for camping and hiking. Clothing and furniture manufacturing is growing as an industry and there are opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers. Energy production is becoming very important and there are opportunities for those who have experience in this field.

As the area is developing there is a need for skilled workers in a number of areas and details on the regions current needs can be found on the website of the government of the territory. There are some fields in which licences are required before a worker can start, and advice on applying for these is given on the site. The government website also lists jobs available within the government itself.

Yukon – Property

The city of Whitehorse is the main residential area of the Yukon region and the town has many neighbourhoods which may be good for someone looking to move to the district for the first time. The population of Whitehorse is now higher than it has been in the past, but the town is still relatively small, so factors such as property type and price do not vary very much across the area. Neighbourhoods such as Granger, Porter Creek, Marsh Lake, Coppery Ridge and Riverdale all offer detached family homes on decent sized plots of land. There are some apartments available in Whitehorse city centre, but these are mainly rented rather than bought. The town has good schools, and children do not have far to travel, no matter which area they are in. There are some leisure facilities in the town and most areas have basic shopping facilities.

The Riverdale district of Whitehorse is a little different in that it has natural boundaries in the mountains and river, so the only possibility for expansion is to build high rise buildings. The area is already home to many low rise apartment buildings and many of these are rented properties.

Dawson City is the second largest urban area in the Yukon. The town is fairly basic, but has all the facilities for daily life, from shops to a medical centre. There is a school but there is not much choice of education due to the size of the town. All of the buildings in the city have an old-fashioned look to them. This is mainly due to the planning laws in the town and any new developments must follow the same style. Property prices in the area are low as there is not a great deal of demand but there is not much variation in price across the town. Homes are mainly single family homes but there are some apartments to rent in the town centre. Rental prices are also usually quite low.

Other towns in the area are very small, usually home to no more than 200-300 people. As a result there is not much choice in properties or facilities. The towns are normally very basic, with just simple stores and not much in the way of leisure facilities. These towns include Beaver Creek, Burwash Landing, Destruction Bay and Haines Junction. Property prices are normally very low, due to the remoteness of the locations and the lack of demand.