Economic equality and employment

Who works where?

Across Canada, there's an unequal distribution of genders in some industries and jobs. This is also known as gender segregation. This segregation is especially true for people who do not have university degrees.

Women are more likely than men to work in the fields of:

  • education;
  • health care; and
  • public administration.

People working in historically female-dominated jobs are often paid less than if they worked in a male-dominated job.

The Yukon’s gender wage gap

The wage gap between men and women in the Yukon has narrowed faster than the rest of Canada. According to Statistics Canada, women in the Yukon earned 1% an hour less than men. Still, women in the Yukon earn less than men, both in hourly wages and total income.

Part-time work is 1 of many factors contributing to the gender wage gap. Women in the Yukon are more likely than men to work part-time or in some other non-standard arrangement. Women work part-time for many reasons, including they're:

  • going to school;
  • caring for children;
  • unable to find a full-time job; or
  • prefer to work fewer hours.

Differences in earnings

Research shows that earnings are affected by many identity factors, including:

  • gender identity;
  • sexual orientation; and
  • indigeneity.

Canadian women with children earn less than women without children. Single-parent families led by women also earn less than single-parent families led by men. Women are also promoted at lower rates due to time off for family responsibilities.

Today, Indigenous women in the Yukon earn more on average than Indigenous men. The participation of Indigenous women in post-secondary education is also increasing.

What are the indicators?

The following indicators tell us about gender, economic equality and employment in the Yukon.

Employment insurance (EI) beneficiaries in the Yukon, by gender

60%

Over the 12-month period from June 2021 to 2022:

  • an average of 60% of EI beneficiaries were men; and
  • an average of 40% of EI beneficiaries were women.

Source:
Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0009-01.

Notes on data:
In order to qualify for Employment Insurance, individuals must have accumulated between 420 and 700 hours of work within the qualifying time period before the claim. The number of hours is based on a given region’s current unemployment rate.

The Labour Force Survey provides monthly data on employment and unemployment as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information.

Hourly wage by gender

97%

  • In the Yukon, women earned 97% of men’s hourly wages in 2021 compared to 85% in 1997.
  • In Canada, women earned 89% of men’s hourly wages in 2021 compared to 82% in 1997.

Source:
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table: 14-10-0064-01.

Notes on data:
The hourly wage rate compares how much men and women make per hour of work. This comparison allows us to look at the earnings of men and women in non-standard work arrangements such as part-time or part-year work, which is unaccounted for in the full-time, full-year statistic.

Data on the wage gap in the Yukon must be interpreted with caution. The territory’s small population, and the resulting small numbers in certain areas of the workforce, may lead to suppression of data. 

The Labour Force Survey provides monthly data on employment and unemployment, as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information.

Full-time and part-time employment

1.5x

In 2021, Yukon women were 1.5 times more likely to work part-time at their main or only job than men. 

Source:
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Yukon Bureau of Statistics.

Notes on data:
The Labour Force Survey provides monthly data on employment and unemployment as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information.

Hourly wages of full-time employees

99%

In 2021:

  • the average full-time hourly wage rate was $36.50 for women and $37.01 for men; and
  • women employed full-time earned 99% of men’s wages, compared to 82% of men’s wages in 1997. 

Source:
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.

Notes on data:
The Labour force Survey is a monthly survey that provides data on employment and unemployment, as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information. 

Hourly wages of part-time employees

$25.89

  • In 2021, the average part-time hourly wage rate was $25.89 for women and $23.63 for men.
  • The part-time hourly wage rate is lower, on average, than the full-time hourly wage rate.
  • The part-time hourly wage for women is generally higher than what it is for men.
  • Women are more likely than men to work part-time.

Source:
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.

Notes on data:
The Labour Force Survey is a monthly survey that provides data on employment and unemployment, as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information. 

Labour force participation rate in Yukon by gender

73.1%

In 2021:

  • 71.4% of Yukon women aged 15+; and
  • 73.1% of Yukon men aged 15+ were working or actively looking for work.

The Yukon's labour force participation rate is often the highest in Canada, both for men and women.

Source:
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.

Notes on data:
The Labour Force Survey is a monthly survey that provides data on employment and unemployment, as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information. 

Labour force participation by occupation and gender

In 2021:

  • Women made up the majority of workers in business, finance, and administrative occupations, as well as occupations in education, law and social, community and government services.
  • Men showed higher participation in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations, as well as a higher presence in management occupations. 

Source:
Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.

Notes on data:
‘Other Occupations’ includes: natural and applied sciences and related occupations; health occupations; occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport; natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations; occupations in manufacturing and utilities; and unclassified occupations.  

The Labour Force Survey is a monthly survey that provides data on employment and unemployment, as indicators of the status of Canada’s economy. Labour Force Survey data for the Yukon is not available on the Statistics Canada website. Contact the Yukon Bureau of Statistics for more information.

Median RRSP contributions in the Yukon by gender

49%

During the 2019 tax year women accounted for:

  • 52% of the RRSP contributors; and
  • 49% of the total contributions.

In other words, more females contribute to RRSPs than males, but their average contributions are lower.

Source:
Statistics Canada. Table #11-10-0044-01.

Median total income by gender

$4,570

Between 2000 and 2020:

  • median total income for females increased by 120%;
  • median total income for males increased by 100%; and
  • women's median income was $4,570 lower than that of men.

Source:
Statistics Canada. Table #11-10-0004-01.

Notes on data:

  • Median income is the middle number in a group of numbers, where exactly half of the incomes reported are greater than or equal to the amount, and that the other half is less than or equal to the median amount.
  • Median incomes in the data tables are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars.
  • Financial data is collected annually from income tax returns filed to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Median total income by family type

77%

In 2020:

  • Women made up 77% of lone-parent family tax filers.
  • The median total income of male lone-parent families was $73,290 compared to $65,450 for female lone-parent families.

Source:
Statistics Canada. Table #11-10-0011-01.

Notes on data:

  • A couple family refers to a married couple or a common-law couple with at least 1 child. A couple may be of opposite sex or same sex.
  • Common-law refers to 2 people living together as a couple but not legally married to each other. They may be of opposite sex or of the same sex.
  • The Census definition of a lone-parent family is a mother or a father, with no spouse or common law partner present, living in a dwelling with 1 or more children. This includes:
    • children living with 1 parent following a parental breakup;
    • single parents of adopted children;
    • a grandparent living with a grandchild when the middle generation is not present; and
    • widows or widowers.
  • A child in a lone-parent family could be an adult child. 
  • Median income is the middle number in a group of numbers, where exactly half of the incomes reported are greater than or equal to the amount, and that the other half is less than or equal to the median amount. Median incomes in the data tables are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars. Financial data is collected annually from income tax returns filed to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Persons with income under $20,000 by gender

54%

In 2020, women made up 54% of those persons in the Yukon with an annual income under $20,000.

Source:
Statistics Canada.  Table #11-10-0008-01.

Notes on data:

  • Total income refers to income from all sources, including employment income, private pensions, RRSPs, investment income and government transfer payments.
  • Annual Income Estimates for Census Families and Individuals (T1 Family File) are collected yearly to provide socioeconomic information on Canadians and their families.
  • Financial data is collected annually from income tax returns filed to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Persons with income over $100,000 by gender

42%

In 2020, women made up 42% of those persons in the Yukon with an annual income over $100,000.

Source:
Statistics Canada - Table #11-10-0008-01.

Notes on data:

  • Total income refers to income from all sources, including employment income, private pensions, RRSPs, investment income and government transfer payments.
  • Annual Income Estimates for Census Families and Individuals (T1 Family File) are collected yearly to provide socioeconomic information on Canadians and their families.
  • Financial data is collected annually from income tax returns filed to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Government of Yukon job types by gender

64%

In 2021, the total Government of Yukon workforce was made up of 64% women and 36% men.

Source:
Government of Yukon, Public Service Commission, 2022.

Notes on data:
The Government of Yukon workforce count, which these percentages are based on, includes employees in all job tenure types: permanent, term, auxiliary-on- call, casual and other.

Employees represented in these statistics do not include judges, elected members, employees in the Head Start Program, Order-in-Council appointees (other than deputy ministers), Justices of the Peace, co-op students, student hires, substitute teachers or Members of legislative assembly and JD pensioners.

Women in the Government of Yukon salary range groups

53%

  • In 2021, 53% of Government of Yukon employees who earned a salary of $150,000 or more were women.
  • Between 2003 and 2021, the percentage of women among Government of Yukon employees earning a salary of $100,000 or more per year increased from 45% to 59% .

Source:
Government of Yukon, Public Service Commission, 2021.

Notes on data:

  • Adjusting for inflation, a $50,000 annual salary earned in 2021 is the equivalent of a $36,681 annual salary earned in 2003. A $100,000 salary in 2021 equates to $73,362 earned in 2003.
  • Regular full-time positions do not include AOC, part-time, casual or term positions.
  • Employees represented in these statistics do not include judges, elected members, employees in the Head Start Program, Order-in-Council appointees, Justices of the Peace, co-op Students, student hires, substitute teachers or members of legislative assembly and
    JD pensioners.