Photo: CKRW file.
Whitehorse, YT – The Yukon Employees’ Union says the territorial government is cutting jobs in rural communities and failing to deliver on its decentralization commitments.
The union says Yukon government staffing in communities fell by 71 positions between 2019 and 2025, which it argues is hurting local economies and contributing to outmigration.
Union president Justin Lemphers says the trend undermines election promises to support rural Yukon and is “breaking trust” with residents.
In a statement, Public Service Commission Minister Jen Gehmair says rural positions have grown 3.3 per cent since 2022, compared to 6.7 per cent growth in Whitehorse.
She says there are 929 active positions in rural communities and 5,588 in Whitehorse. She says in a statement that since 2022, Whitehorse’s population has grown by 18 to 20 per cent.
“In contrast, populations in rural communities have remained relatively stable,” reads the statement. “These changes have influenced where services are most in demand and how the Government of Yukon allocates its workforce.”
