Tourism could add far more than the 250 new jobs expected if government helps the industry secure improved air transportation, product development, and training. Still, Nunavut's economic challenges are daunting. With no roads connecting Nunavut to southern Canada, the cost of living here is 1.6 to 3 times higher. The last Canadian Census showed that 56 per cent of Nunavut's population is under 25. Nunavut already has Canada's highest unemployment rate at 20.7 per cent.
Education levels are low, and getting a university degree means living far from home.
Most new jobs forecast will demand levels of education greater than those Nunavut students currently attain. However, Doug Brubacher, formerly a senior economist with the Department of Sustainable Development, cautions that the report doesn't tell the whole story because it was based on a static model of Nunavut's economy, as opposed to a dynamic one. As well, industries like mining are expected to stream more jobs to Inuit in Nunavut through Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreements. It's intended to give Nunavut businesses an edge over southern contractors and suppliers, helping to boost local employment and training in particular. By contrast, the federal government hasn't lived up to its Article 24 commitments yet.