Socio-Economic & Community Commitments

Mining companies today are committed to working with communities and governments to create meaningful benefits in the regions where they operate. Through various agreements, efforts are focused on such goals as training, employment, and business.

Mining benefits to NWT & Nunavut – the latest numbers on jobs and spending

Every year, the Chamber of Mines tabulates the major socio-economic benefits – employment and business spending – created by Northwest Territories and Nunavut mines.

Since 1996, when the NWT’s first diamond mine began construction, through 2019, here are the Chamber’s latest cumulative totals:

87,930 person-years* of employment (1996-2019)
- 64,095 (from four NWT diamond mines)
- 23,835 (from three Nunavut gold mines and one Nunavut iron ore mine)
Employment - 40% northern/60% southern (1996-2019)
2,143 northern workforce (26%) in 2019
$32.7 billion in business (1996-2019)
$20.3 billion northern (62%) (1996-2019)
Plus, several hundred million dollars to communities in IBA payments, scholarships, donations, & community wellness projects
Plus, billions more in taxes and royalties to public and Indigenous governments

*one person year equals 2,184 hours (12 hour shifts during two weeks on/two weeks off rotations over one year)

NWT Diamond Benefits

The Northwest Territories’ diamond mines continue to provide significant socio-economic benefits to NWT residents and businesses while generating substantial revenues to the territorial government.

Highlights show the NWT diamond mines have generated the following:

Business

$15.4 billion northern spending (69%) from 1996 through 2019, of which
- $6.7 billion spending with northern Indigenous businesses
$813.3 million northern spending (68%) in 2019, of which
- $369.4 million with Indigenous business

Employment

30,616 person years northern employment (48%) from 1996 through 2019, of which
- 15,383 person years Indigenous
1,334 person years northern employment (46%) in 2019, of which
- 697 person years Indigenous

To learn more about the benefits the NWT’s diamond mines provide, please see their most recent socio-economic reports here:

Other NWT Resources

NWT Government 2019 Socio Economic Agreement Report on Diamond Mines released November 2020

Measuring Success 1996-2016: NWT Diamond Mines Continue to Create Benefits released in November 2017

NWT Diamonds 25th Anniversary Publication released in November 2016

Nunavut Mine Benefits

Mining in Nunavut has experienced a resurgence over the past decade. In 2009, there was no mineral production in the territory but today there are four operating mines; three gold and one iron ore.

Highlights show Nunavut mines have generated the following:

Business