Yukon Community Pilot Program Closes After Five-Year Run

While the Yukon Community Pilot is no longer available, opportunities remain through other Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) streams. For those who hoped to use YCP to build a future in Canada’s North, it’s time to explore these alternative immigration routes and understand what this closure means for both candidates and employers. 

Key Takeaways

• The Yukon Community Pilot (YCP) officially ended on June 30, 2025, after a planned five-year run. 
• YCP allowed applicants to combine up to three part-time jobs to meet full-time hours for YNP eligibility. 
• 42 candidates were nominated through YCP between 2020 and 2025. 
• Yukon’s main immigration streams — Business Nominee, Critical Impact Worker, Skilled Worker, and Express Entry — remain open via an invitational process. 
• The Government of Yukon and IRCC are assessing the program’s results to determine future options to address labour shortages. 

A closer look at the Yukon Community Pilot closure 

The Yukon Community Pilot launched in 2020 as a three-year immigration initiative designed to address labour shortages in specific Yukon communities: Dawson, Carmacks, Carcross, Haines Junction, Watson Lake, and Whitehorse. Unlike traditional programs, YCP allowed candidates to meet full-time work requirements by combining up to three part-time job offers from eligible employers. 

This flexibility aimed to reflect the realities of work in smaller, often seasonal economies, while still providing a pathway to permanent residence through the Yukon Nominee Program. In 2023, the program received a two-year extension — but the final end date of June 30, 2025, was built into the agreement between the Government of Yukon and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

What happens now for candidates and employers 

Although YCP has concluded, several other Yukon Nominee Program streams remain available: 

• Yukon Business Nominee Program — for experienced entrepreneurs ready to own and operate a business in Yukon. 
• Critical Impact Worker — targeting occupations in high demand that require semi-skilled or unskilled workers. 
• Skilled Worker — for candidates with a job offer in a skilled occupation. 
• Express Entry — aligned with the federal Express Entry system for skilled workers. 

These streams are now managed through an invitational process that prioritizes applications matching the territory’s 2025 economic priorities. The Government of Yukon identified these priorities through collaboration with industry groups and the business community, ensuring that immigration continues to support the region’s labour market needs. 

You can learn more about these YNP streams on our dedicated page.  

Program outcomes and local context 

Over its five-year run, the Yukon Community Pilot saw 42 successful nominations. While modest in scale, these numbers reflect the pilot’s focused approach and the relatively small population of the Yukon. The program targeted industries and communities where labour shortages were most acute. 

As of June 2025, the Yukon has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, suggesting that job opportunities remain available for both newcomers and long-term residents. The end of YCP is not a reflection of reduced need, but rather the conclusion of a planned test initiative. 

What’s next for Yukon immigration policy 

The Government of Yukon and IRCC are now reviewing the pilot’s outcomes to evaluate its effectiveness in addressing labour shortages. This review will inform whether similar flexible work arrangements could be integrated into future programs, or whether other models may better serve Yukon employers. 

For newcomers interested in living and working in the territory, the end of the Yukon Community Pilot is a shift, not a dead end. The existing YNP streams — combined with Yukon’s low unemployment rate and strong demand for workers in certain industries — still offer viable and promising pathways. 

To learn more about the Yukon Community Pilot’s history, eligibility criteria, and past application process, visit our full guide: Yukon Community Pilot (YCP) Program.