Jobs double in Nunavik since 1993

KUUJJUAQ – The number of jobs is increasing every year in Nunavik.

The percentage of these jobs which are held by Inuit – 56 per cent – is the same as five years ago.

But this could change, because an increasing number of new jobs require more education.

These are among the findings of a new survey called Jobs in Nunavik 2005 by the Kativik Regional Government.

The KRG’s Department of Employment, Training, Income Support and Childcare conducted three surveys with Nunavik employers in 1993, 1995 and 1998.

The department’s new survey, discussed at the recent Kativik Regional Government council meeting, found that more jobs than ever before are available in Nunavik.

“Between 1998 and 2005, the number of regular full-time jobs increased considerably in Nunavik with 1,075 new positions, and this increase benefits both beneficiaries [of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement] and non-beneficiaries,” says the report.

There are now 3,189 full-time jobs in Nunavik. This represents an increase of 51 per cent compared to the last 1998 survey when there were 2,114 jobs.

The number of full-time jobs in Nunavik doubled since 1993. Overall, this means there have been 135 new full-time jobs created every year.

The survey found the increase in jobs has benefited Inuit and non-Inuit, with the same percentage of Inuit working as in the past.

But the main reason that Inuit have hung on to their share of the job market is the growth in full-time jobs at the region’s childcare centres, which employ 200 Inuit women.

The female labour force has also increased by 84 per cent since 1998. The main reason for this result is again the growth of jobs at the childcare centres.

There are 24 per cent more part-time jobs now than in 1998, and Inuit fill most of these.

With respect to casual jobs, 72 per cent – or about seven out of 10 – are held by Inuit.

In Montreal-based Inuit organizations, non-Inuit fill about eight of 10 jobs.

The survey found a little more that half of Nunavik jobs require some post-secondary education or specialized courses – and this trend is increasing.

Jobs requiring a trades certificate, college diploma or university degree represented 34 per cent of the full-time workforce in 1993, 41 per cent in 1995, 50 per cent in 1998, and 52 per cent in 2005.