Student jobs in Nunavut: the highest minimum wage in Canada, youth rules and where the work is
Nunavut's minimum wage is $20.17 an hour as of September 1, 2026, the highest in Canada, and students earn the full rate. The Labour Standards Act sets no minimum working age; it defines a "young person" as anyone under 17 and bars them from working between 11 pm and 6 am, or in construction, without written approval from a Labour Standards Officer. Iqaluit has the most openings, followed by Rankin Inlet and the larger Kivalliq and Kitikmeot communities.
Why the wage is high and what it means for students
The minimum wage in Nunavut is $20.17 per hour, effective September 1, 2026. It is recalculated every September using a formula based on the Iqaluit consumer price index and the territory's average hourly wage from the previous year, so expect a new figure each fall. There is no student or youth rate. A 16 year old bagging groceries in Iqaluit earns more per hour than a 16 year old doing the same job anywhere else in the country.
The reason is cost. Groceries, housing and fuel in Nunavut are far more expensive than in the south, so the wage buys less than the number suggests. For a student living at home, though, the hourly rate is real money, and a summer of full time hours at $20.17 funds a laptop, a trip south or a start on college costs.
Rules for young workers in Nunavut
Nunavut's rules are short compared with the provinces. The Act does not set a minimum age; it sets conditions for anyone under 17.
| Age | Rule | How exceptions work |
|---|---|---|
| Under 17 ("young person") | Cannot work between 11 pm on one day and 6 am the next | Only with written approval from the Labour Standards Officer |
| Under 17 | Cannot work in construction | Employer must obtain a permit by showing the work would not endanger the young person and complies with the Safety Act |
| Under 17 | Other occupations the Officer considers unsuitable for young people | Employer applies to the Labour Standards Officer for approval before hiring |
| 17 and over | No youth specific restrictions | General labour standards apply |
Source: Fact sheets and frequently asked questions, Nunavut Labour Standards Compliance Office.
With no legal minimum age, employers decide for themselves. In Iqaluit most stores and restaurants hire from 15 or 16, and the Government of Nunavut's summer student hiring is aimed at students returning to school. The 11 pm rule shapes restaurant and hotel scheduling for 16 year olds: a closing shift that ends at midnight needs the Officer's approval, so most employers simply end younger workers' shifts earlier.
Where students find jobs in Nunavut
Nunavut's communities are not connected by road, so every job market is local. The Campus Atlas page for Nunavut shows the live openings by community.
Iqaluit
The capital has the only market with real choice: NorthMart and Arctic Ventures for grocery and retail, the Frobisher Inn, Discovery and Aqsarniit hotels and their restaurants, the Iqaluit Aquatic Centre and arena for lifeguard and attendant roles, the airport, Nunavut Arctic College, and a large concentration of Government of Nunavut and federal offices that hire summer students. Toonik Tyme in April and the summer tourism season add short term work.
Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake and Cambridge Bay
Each regional centre has a Northern or Co-op store, a hotel, a hamlet office, a health centre and a school, and most of them hire local students for summer positions. Cambridge Bay adds the Canadian High Arctic Research Station and summer research support roles. Mining operations in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot hire adults, but their camps and contractors sometimes take on 18 year olds for summer work.
Smaller communities
In a community of a few hundred people, the store, the hamlet and the school may be the only employers. Summer student positions funded through the hamlet or the territorial government are usually the realistic first job. Ask at the hamlet office in April and May; many are never posted online.
Typical first jobs in Nunavut
- Cashier, stock clerk or bagger at the Northern, NorthMart or Co-op
- Summer student with the Government of Nunavut, a hamlet or an Inuit organization
- Lifeguard or recreation attendant at the Iqaluit Aquatic Centre and community arenas
- Hotel and restaurant work in Iqaluit for 16 and up, within the 11 pm rule
- Day camp and youth programming assistant with recreation departments
- Airport, cargo and expediting support roles for 18 and up
Find jobs near your school with Campus Atlas
Campus Atlas maps Nunavut's high schools, Nunavut Arctic College campuses and youth centres to the live jobs in their community. Open the Nunavut page, choose your school, and see what is open nearby with the wage shown on each listing. In most communities the list will be short; that is the real market, and it means every posting is worth applying to.
Build a resume with the free Resume Builder, and include Inuktut language skills, land skills, hunting and community volunteering; employers in Nunavut value all of them. The full job listing covers the whole territory if you can travel for a summer.
See live student jobs near Nunavut schools on Campus Atlas (free, wages shown on every listing).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to work in Nunavut?
Nunavut's Labour Standards Act does not set a minimum working age. It treats anyone under 17 as a young person who cannot work between 11 pm and 6 am, or in construction, without written approval from the Labour Standards Officer. Employers set their own hiring ages, and most Iqaluit stores and restaurants hire from 15 or 16.
What is the minimum wage in Nunavut?
The minimum wage in Nunavut is $20.17 an hour as of September 1, 2026, the highest in Canada. Students and young workers receive the same rate as adults; there is no youth wage. The rate is recalculated every September 1 using the Iqaluit consumer price index and the territorial average hourly wage, so check the Government of Nunavut for the current figure.
Can a 16 year old work late shifts in Nunavut?
Not past 11 pm without approval. Anyone under 17 cannot work between 11 pm and 6 am unless the employer has written approval from the Labour Standards Officer. Most Iqaluit restaurants and hotels schedule 15 and 16 year olds to finish earlier rather than apply. The restriction ends on your 17th birthday.
Are there student jobs outside Iqaluit?
Yes, but fewer. Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake and Cambridge Bay each have a store, a hotel, a hamlet office, a health centre and a school that hire students, mostly for summer. In smaller communities the hamlet and the store may be the only employers, and summer student positions are often arranged in person rather than posted online.
Sources
- Nunavut's minimum wage increases September 1 to $20.17 per hour, Government of Nunavut
- Fact sheets and FAQs, Nunavut Labour Standards Compliance Office
Disclaimer
This article is general information for young job seekers, not legal, financial or employment advice. Minimum wages, minimum working ages, hours limits and program rules change, often on April 1 or October 1, and they differ by province and territory. Always confirm the current rules with your provincial or territorial government, the employment standards office, or the relevant federal department before relying on them. YouthBoard makes every effort to keep articles accurate, but they may contain errors or be out of date, and we accept no liability for any loss or decision made based on this content. If you spot something wrong, tell us and we will fix it.
