How employers in Northern Canada are approaching workforce development amid increasing demand for skilled workers – Benefits Canada.com
February 12, 2026
With demand for skilled workers in Northern Ontario, Yukon and Nunavut expected to rise sharply over the next two decades, such projections are highlighting challenges for employers in these regions as they rethink workforce development, says Andy Moorhouse, vice-president of economic development at Makivvik, a Quebec-based organization supporting the Inuit of Nunavik.
While much of Canada is grappling with ageing workforces and shrinking talent pools, northern regions face a different demographic reality. “The issue isn’t availability of people,” he says. “We have a very young population. The real challenge is access to training and the ability to pursue it without losing income.”
