Development Influences
Prominent economic sectors in Dawson generally align with those seen in the Yukon, tourism and resource extraction are especially important to the local economy. Based on 2016 Statistics Canada employment numbers, the leading economic sectors in Dawson are:
- public administration
- health care and social assistance
- accommodation and food services
- arts, entertainment, and recreation
The prominence of jobs in accommodation and food services, mining, and arts, entertainment and recreation directly impacts Dawson’s demographic profile, as these jobs tend to have younger work forces.
Placer mining in Dawson is a defining component of the landscape, where active claims are worked throughout the goldfields. Although placer mining now uses modern technology and is subject to a set of regulations, it retains many of its historic characteristics. Mining is still an uncertain endeavor that requires heavy investment in time and money without guaranteed return. The work is hard, and the environment in which it takes place is harsh. Most miners do it for the lifestyle and the sense of pride, accomplishment, and community that comes from carrying on the region’s long tradition.
Lastly, culture and tourism have become mainstays of the economy. Tourists come from all over the world to visit Dawson City, where our cultural heritage is evident in local land forms, infrastructure, buildings, structures, sites, routes, venues, events, people, and cultural practices. Many people choose to live in the region and carry on the lifestyle that has become emblematic of the region.