Employment Insurance

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In March, 681,400 people were receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits, up by 65,300 or 10.6% from the previous month, with the strongest increases in Alberta and British Columbia. The increase in March was the largest since the labour market started to deteriorate last October.

While the number of people receiving benefits climbed in March, the number of initial and renewal claims received during that month edged down 1.9%.

From October to March, labour market conditions in Canada deteriorated significantly and employment fell sharply. In April, employment increased, boosted by a gain in self-employment.

Since October 2008, the number of regular EI beneficiaries has climbed by 36.2%.

Over the October 2008 to March 2009 period, the number of regular EI beneficiaries has increased across all provinces and territories, with the largest percentage growth in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

Alberta and British Columbia particularly hard hit

In March, there was a notable increase in the number of beneficiaries in Alberta and British Columbia, both provinces having registered month-over-month increases that were well above the national average.

In Alberta, the number of regular beneficiaries climbed by 32.1% to 42,200 in March, marking the fastest monthly increase for that province since comparable data are available. The number of Albertans receiving benefits has risen at an increasing pace every month since October 2008, bringing the increase over the five months to 131.1%.

The number of people receiving regular benefits in British Columbia in March increased by 26.7% to 82,200, also marking the fastest monthly increase for that province. Since October 2008, the number has increased by 80.5%.

In March, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario all posted increases in the number of regular beneficiaries close to the national average.

Regional and demographic overview: The number of beneficiaries more than doubled in most large centres in Alberta and British Columbia

Regional data and data by sex and age on EI are not seasonally adjusted and therefore should only be compared on a year-over-year basis.

All census metropolitan areas in Canada (map) have seen an increase in the number of regular beneficiaries in the past year. In upcoming months, Statistics Canada will be expanding the number of EI maps it offers, providing additional regional labour market information.

Between March 2008 and March 2009, the number of beneficiaries more than doubled in almost every large centre in Alberta, and tripled in Wood Buffalo. In Calgary, the number of regular beneficiaries grew by 187.0% to 15,400, while in Edmonton, it was up 185.6% to 14,700.

In Alberta, the drop in employment in recent months has mostly hit construction, trade, manufacturing and professional, scientific and technical services.

Sharp increases in the number of people receiving regular benefits were also observed in British Columbia between March 2008 and March 2009. The number of beneficiaries tripled in Cranbrook and Kelowna, and more than doubled in 13 other census agglomerations. In Victoria, the number of beneficiaries increased 159.4%, while in Vancouver, the 20,400 additional beneficiaries represented an increase of 136.0% in one year. Abbotsford saw an increase of 125.7%.

During the same period, the decrease in employment in British Columbia affected a large number of sectors, including construction; manufacturing; trade; forestry and logging; and transportation and warehousing.

Between March 2008 and March 2009, notable increases in the number of regular beneficiaries were observed in Ontario in all census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, ranging from 26.3% to 154.4%. The number of regular beneficiaries approximately doubled in London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Windsor. In Toronto, the number of regular beneficiaries rose 85.0%.

During the same period, the sectors of the Ontario economy experiencing steep declines in employment were manufacturing; business, building and other support services; educational services, construction and trade.

Largest increases for men and youth

There was a larger increase in the number of men receiving regular benefits (+54.8%) compared with women (+37.9%) between March 2008 and March 2009.

For both sexes, the increase in the number of regular beneficiaries was higher for youth under 25 years old, at 56.1%.

Claims still filed in large numbers in March

To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. Statistics on claims cover the month and provide an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.

The number of initial and renewal claims received in March edged down 1.9% from February to 318,900. Despite this modest decrease, the number of claims received in March was the second highest since the availability of comparable data starting in 1997.

The number of claims received varied across provinces. In March, seven provinces experienced a rise in claims compared with February, with the strongest increases in Alberta (+16.0%), Prince Edward Island (+8.6%), Saskatchewan (+8.5%) and Manitoba (+5.8%). British Columbia and Ontario received fewer claims in March, after having registered in February their highest number of claims since the availability of comparable data starting in 1997.

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

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2604.

Data tables are also now available online. From the By subject module of our website, choose Labour.

Data on Employment Insurance for April will be released on June 22.

For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Dominique Pérusse (613-951-4064) or Gilles Groleau (613-951-4091), Labour Statistics Division.