Statistics Canada - Statistique Canada
Skip main navigation menuSkip secondary navigation menuHomeFrançaisContact UsHelpSearch the websiteCanada Site
The DailyCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesHome
CensusCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesOther links

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Media Room Search The Daily View or print The Daily in PDF format. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader The Daily archives Latest release from the Labour Force Survey Latest release from the Consumer Price Index Recently released products Latest economic indicators Release dates Get a FREE subscription to The Daily Information about The Daily The Daily
Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Employment Insurance

March 2003 (preliminary)

The estimated number of Canadians (adjusted for seasonality) receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits in March moved up a slight 0.7% from February to 535,160. This was the first monthly rise in five months and was primarily due to increases in Ontario (+3.1%), Alberta (+2.3%) and British Columbia (+1.3%). Quebec remained virtually unchanged, increasing only 0.2%.

Also on a seasonally adjusted basis, regular benefit payments in March totalled $809.1 million, while the number of people making initial and renewal claims was 249,310.

Number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits
  March 2003p Feb. to March 2003 March 2002 to March 2003
  Seasonally adjusted
    % change
Canada 535,160 0.7 -2.8
Newfoundland and Labrador 37,320 0.6 2.4
Prince Edward Island 8,100 0.2 -1.8
Nova Scotia 29,960 0.1 -0.8
New Brunswick 33,660 -0.4 -2.4
Quebec 176,550 0.2 -4.4
Ontario 130,530 3.1 -2.9
Manitoba 13,010 0.5 -4.6
Saskatchewan 11,280 -0.3 -0.7
Alberta 31,800 2.3 3.2
British Columbia 60,730 1.3 -6.2
Yukon Territory 840 0.0 15.1
Northwest Territories and Nunavut 1,080 -2.7 6.9
  Unadjusted
Northwest Territories 790 -7.1 5.3
Nunavut 310 0.0 -6.1
pPreliminary figures.

Note: Employment Insurance Statistics Program data are produced from an administrative data source and may, from time to time, be affected by changes to the Employment Insurance Act or administrative procedures.

The number of beneficiaries is a measure of all persons who received Employment Insurance benefits for the week containing the fifteenth day of the month. The regular benefit payments series measures the total of all monies received by individuals for the entire month.

Employment Insurance statistics
  March 2003 Feb. 2003 March 2002 Feb. to March 2003 March 2002 to March 2003
  Seasonally adjusted
        % change
Regular beneficiaries 535,160p 531,280p 550,320 0.7 -2.8
Regular benefits paid ($ millions) 809.1 711.7 710.1 13.7 13.9
Claims received ('000) 249.3 233.1 204.9 7.0 21.7
  Unadjusted
        % change
All beneficiaries ('000) 968.7p 980.5p 1003.1 -1.2 -3.4
Regular beneficiaries ('000) 685.8p 694.0p 710.2 -1.2 -3.4
Claims received ('000) 223.3 187.4 182.9 19.1 22.1
Payments ($ millions) 1,573.5 1,370.9 1,334.7 14.8 17.9
  Year-to-date (January to March)
      2003 2002 2002 to 2003
          % change
Claims received ('000)     763.5 733.0 4.2
Payments ($ millions)     4,392.5 4,245.1 3.5
pPreliminary figures.
Note:"All beneficiaries" includes all claimants receiving regular benefits (for example, as a result of layoff) or special benefits (for example, as a result of illness).

Available on CANSIM: tables 276-0001 to 276-0006, 276-0009, 276-0011, 276-0015 and 276-0016.

Information on methods and data quality available in the Integrated Meta Data Base: survey number 2604.

For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Gilles Groleau (613-951-4091) or Jamie Brunet (613-951-6684), Labour Statistics Division.



Home | Search | Contact Us | Français Return to top of page
Date Modified: 2003-05-27 Important Notices