Close to half of the ecozone’s labour force is engaged in public administration or services, with another 12% in commerce. This reflects, in large part, the nature of Whitehorse, the capital and commercial centre of the Yukon.

Most historic and present-day placer mining is confined to the Klondike plateau in the unglaciated areas of the Klondike, Sixtymile, lower Stewart and Indian River drainages. Of the 21 creeks that produced the most gold between 1978 and 1987, only three were not in these drainages.

Because placer deposits are associated with streambeds, much activity is within the floodplains of streams, which may be dammed, diverted and stripped of vegetation. As a result, impacts on fish habitat and water quality persist long after mining has ceased. Current regulations restrict sediment levels in placer effluent and measures must be taken to restore or compensate for lost habitat.

Important mineral deposits are found within the ecozone. Among these are the Casino deposit (copper-gold-molybdenum), Carmacks deposit (copper-gold) and the Mount Nansen deposit (gold-silver). Major hard rock mining properties in the past have included the lead-zinc mine at Faro, the Keno-Elsa Silver Mine, Ketza River Gold Mine, Mount Nansen Gold Mine and the Brewery Creek Gold Mine. All have been closed in recent years, but Faro reopened recently and a couple of others are planning to resume operations in the near future.

Forestry operations are small and centred around Watson Lake in the Yukon and areas of northeastern British Columbia. The forestry sector is growing and expected to become the major employer and economic contributor for the southeast Yukon.