The NWT still has Canada’s highest median wage. Here’s the data.

The Northwest Territories still ranks highest in Canada in terms of median wage, according to the most recent data.

A recent report from Statistics Canada notes that in 2019, the median wage for the Northwest Territories was $88,312, which represents a 4.9% increase from the 2018 median wage of $84,076. This is significantly higher than the median wages of other Canadian provinces, which ranged from $44,183 in Quebec to $74,456 in Alberta.

The report also notes that the NWT has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, at 5.1% in 2019. This is down from the 2018 rate of 5.6%. In comparison, the national unemployment rate was 5.9% in 2019.

The report suggests that the high wages and low unemployment in the NWT can be attributed to the region’s booming economy. This is largely due to the territory’s significant resources, including oil, gas, and diamonds. In addition, the report notes that public sector employment in the NWT is also on the rise, which contributes to the region’s economic growth.

The NWT is home to a diverse population, with Indigenous peoples making up 25.8% of the territory’s population. The report notes that Indigenous peoples in the NWT have traditionally had higher levels of unemployment and lower wages than non-Indigenous people. However, the report finds that the gap in wages and unemployment rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the NWT has narrowed significantly in recent years.

Overall, the report concludes that the NWT continues to have Canada’s highest median wage and lowest unemployment rate, due to its strong economy and narrowing wage gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.