The Carmacks economy is fairly limited in range. Carmacks is a service centre on the Klondike Highway. In addition, there is government activity in the fields of local services and administration of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation's activities. Tourism provides some summer jobs. Carmacks is located in a mineral-rich area, and seasonal employment has come from mining exploration, as well as from providing services to exploration crews. The amount of employment available from this source depends on the highly variable economic state of the mining industry.
Government services, including education and health, account for over half of the jobs in the community. The Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation employs people in administration and in providing services such as elder care. The First Nation also operates an interpretive centre. Other government services employees work for the Yukon government or with the Carmacks municipal government.
Tourism is a sizeable part of local economic activity. About 7 percent of employment is found in accommodation and food services, just below the Yukon average. Other services, largely recreation, provide 5 percent of employment, a little higher than the Yukon share. Trade provides a further 5 percent, lower than the Yukon-wide share.
Activity in primary industries, transportation, and construction amounts to a similar share as the Yukon average. Some industries employ so few people that the shares cannot be measured.
Traditional activities are important in the economy and lifestyle of First Nations people in Carmacks, and a significant proportion of residents hunt and fish to supply some of their families' food needs.
