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December 2009 (Previous release)

The number of regular Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries fell for the third consecutive month, down 40,100 in December to 744,000. There were fewer beneficiaries in all provinces in December, with the most notable decreases observed in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.

The number of people receiving EI benefits continued to decline in December

The number of people receiving regular EI benefits fell by 85,300 since the highpoint of 829,300 reached last June. Despite the decline in recent months, the number of beneficiaries remains 243,700 above its October 2008 level when employment was at a peak.

Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits was higher in December 2009 in all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) (see map). The pace of increase, however, has slowed. Between December 2008 and December 2009, the number of regular beneficiaries more than doubled in 3 CMAs (Calgary, Edmonton and Greater Sudbury). This contrasts with June 2009 when the number of beneficiaries had doubled in 14 CMAs in the previous 12 months.

Note to readers

All data in this release are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Each month, Statistics Canada now provides enhanced analysis of the current labour market situation, using Employment Insurance (EI) statistics and other sources. Earlier in February 2010, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) provided a picture of overall labour market conditions, including unemployment, total employment and those affected by changes in the labour market. In this release, Statistics Canada provides additional sub-provincial detail through the EI statistics. Details by industry will follow with data from the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours.

EI statistics are produced from an administrative data source from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. These statistics may, from time to time, be affected by changes to the Employment Insurance Act or administrative procedures. The number of regular beneficiaries and the number of claims received for November and December 2009 are preliminary.

The number of beneficiaries is a measure of all persons who received EI benefits from the 6th to the 12th of December. This period coincides with the reference week of the LFS for December.

EI statistics indicate the number of people who received EI benefits, and should not be confused with data coming from the LFS, which provides information on the total number of unemployed people.

There is always a certain proportion of unemployed people who do not qualify for benefits. Some unemployed people have not contributed to the program because they have not worked in the past 12 months or their employment is not insured. Other unemployed people have contributed to the program but do not meet the eligibility criteria, such as workers who left their job voluntarily or those who did not accumulate enough hours of work to receive benefits.

The change in the number of regular EI beneficiaries is the reflection of various situations, including people becoming beneficiaries, and people leaving the EI system, either to go back to work or because they have exhausted their weeks of benefits.

The data on employment used in this analysis are drawn from the LFS.

To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. The number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries. In December, there were 264,700 initial and renewal claims received, a decline of 5,500 from the previous month. This decrease occurred in five provinces, with the most notable decline in Ontario, down 7,200. At the same time, there were increases in five other provinces, particularly in Quebec.

With the decline in December, the number of initial and renewal claims received continued on a downward trend that began last May. Since then, the number of claims received has fallen by 63,000 with decreases in all provinces.

The number of claims received has been trending down since the peak in May 2009

Fewer beneficiaries in all provinces

All provinces saw fewer regular EI beneficiaries in December, especially Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.

In Ontario, the number of people receiving regular benefits dropped by 16,900 in December to 251,400, bringing total declines since last June to 35,200. Over the same six-month period, employment in the province increased by 34,000 with gains in educational services; health care and social assistance; professional, scientific and technical services as well as construction.

The number of beneficiaries in Quebec fell by 4,600 for the second consecutive month, decreasing to 198,100, a 12,000 decline compared with June 2009.

In British Columbia, the number of EI recipients decreased by 3,300 to 89,300. This represents the fifth decline for the province in six months. Since June 2009, there have been employment gains in a number of industries, most notably finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.

The number of Albertans receiving regular EI benefits totalled 70,100 in December, down 3,200 from November, following three months of increases. This leaves the number of beneficiaries in the province 7,200 above the level of June 2009.

Sub-provincial and demographic overview

Increase in number of EI beneficiaries slowed in most large centres

Employment Insurance data by sub-provincial region, sex and age are not seasonally adjusted. Therefore, they are compared on a year-over-year basis.

The number of EI beneficiaries continued to increase in many large centres, but at a slower pace than in recent months. Large centres are those with a population greater than 10,000.

In Ontario, the number of EI recipients more than doubled in only 1 of its 41 large centres, namely Greater Sudbury. This contrasts with year-over-year increases ending in June, when the number of beneficiaries more than doubled in 26 of the large centres in the province.

In Greater Sudbury, the number of people receiving benefits rose from 2,300 to 4,700. This increase coincided with a decline in employment in a number of industries, including its natural resources sector.

The number of EI recipients in Toronto rose from 58,600 to 87,500 (+49.2%), its slowest year-over-year increase in 2009.

The number of beneficiaries declined in Quebec in almost half of its 33 large centres. This was in sharp contrast with the previous months in 2009, when there were few centres with year-over-year declines.

From December 2008 to December 2009, the number of EI beneficiaries in Montréal rose by 27.4% to 70,700, the largest increase of all centres in the province. The number of beneficiaries rose slightly in Québec (CMA), up 11.0% to 11,400.

In British Columbia, the number of beneficiaries increased between December 2008 and December 2009 in all large centres, albeit at a slower pace than in previous months. The fastest year-over-year percentage increases were in Fort St. John and Cranbrook. In Vancouver, the number of people receiving regular benefits increased to 35,900 (+15,100) and in Victoria the number of beneficiaries rose to 4,500 (+1,900). In 2009, employment in the province fell in a number of industries, including manufacturing, construction and natural resources.

In Alberta, the number of beneficiaries continued to at least double in virtually all large centres. The year-over-year increases in December, however, were slower than in previous months. In Calgary, the number of people receiving regular benefits increased from 6,300 in December 2008 to 19,600 in December 2009, while the number in Edmonton rose from 6,700 to 17,300 over the same period. In 2009, there were fewer workers employed in the province in manufacturing, natural resources and professional, scientific and technical services.

Slower year-over-year growth in the number of male and female beneficiaries in all age groups

In December, the year-over-year increase in the number of regular EI beneficiaries was the slowest since January 2009. All of the age groups experienced similar growth rates from December 2008 to December 2009.

The number of beneficiaries aged 55 and over rose by 32.5% in December 2009 compared with 12 months earlier, with women up 36.0% and men up 30.7% over the period.

At the same time, the number of beneficiaries under the age of 25 saw an increase of 31.4% to 77,700 in December 2009. This was much slower than the year-over-year increases observed throughout most of 2009. For the first time since July 2008, women under the age of 25 experienced a larger year-over-year percentage increase than young men, with respective increases of 42.4% and 27.6%.

From December 2008 to December 2009, there were 115,900 more core-aged EI beneficiaries (25 to 54 year-olds), an increase of 29.0%, with similar percentage increases for core-aged men and core-aged women. This contrasts with most of 2009 when the number of male EI beneficiaries aged 25 to 54 grew at a much faster pace than for women in the same age group.

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 Subject module of our website, choose Labour.

Data on Employment Insurance for January will be released on March 24.

A set of maps, Employment Insurance Statistics Maps, December 2009 (73-002-X, free), is now available online. The maps show percent changes in the number of people receiving regular EI benefits for all census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations in Canada. From the Key resource module of our website, under Publications, choose All subjects, then Labour.

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 Vincent Ferrao (613-951-4750) or Dominique Pérusse (613-951-4064), Labour Statistics Division.

Table 1

Employment Insurance: Statistics by province and territory
  November 2009p December 2009p November to December 2009 December 2008 to December 2009 November to December 2009 December 2008 to December 2009
  Seasonally adjusted
  number change in number % change
Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits            
Canada 784,130 744,010 -40,120 195,030 -5.1 35.5
Newfoundland and Labrador 40,620 40,370 -250 3,250 -0.6 8.8
Prince Edward Island 8,690 8,670 -20 610 -0.2 7.6
Nova Scotia 34,280 33,640 -640 4,240 -1.9 14.4
New Brunswick 36,150 34,890 -1,260 3,960 -3.5 12.8
Quebec 202,630 198,060 -4,570 25,130 -2.3 14.5
Ontario 268,350 251,430 -16,920 76,610 -6.3 43.8
Manitoba 17,060 16,730 -330 5,120 -1.9 44.1
Saskatchewan 14,090 13,080 -1,010 4,000 -7.2 44.1
Alberta 73,250 70,060 -3,190 47,530 -4.4 211.0
British Columbia 92,580 89,260 -3,320 36,130 -3.6 68.0
Yukon 1,070 1,060 -10 170 -0.9 19.1
Northwest Territories 930 910 -20 190 -2.2 26.4
Nunavut 510 510 0 90 0.0 21.4
Initial and renewal claims received            
Canada 270,180 264,670 -5,510 -9,760 -2.0 -3.6
Newfoundland and Labrador 9,420 9,280 -140 -340 -1.5 -3.5
Prince Edward Island 2,600 2,640 40 150 1.5 6.0
Nova Scotia 10,130 10,450 320 -80 3.2 -0.8
New Brunswick 10,220 10,270 50 -280 0.5 -2.7
Quebec 74,020 77,470 3,450 -990 4.7 -1.3
Ontario 92,340 85,100 -7,240 -14,670 -7.8 -14.7
Manitoba 8,890 8,830 -60 1,360 -0.7 18.2
Saskatchewan 6,300 6,610 310 920 4.9 16.2
Alberta 26,100 25,260 -840 5,070 -3.2 25.1
British Columbia 32,290 31,480 -810 -2,260 -2.5 -6.7
Yukon 310 320 10 10 3.2 3.2
Northwest Territories 360 330 -30 10 -8.3 3.1
Nunavut 180 210 30 30 16.7 16.7
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.

Table 2

Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by age group, sex, province and territory
  December 2008 December 2009p December 2008 to December 2009 December 2008 to December 2009
  Unadjusted for seasonality
  number change in number % change
Canada        
Both sexes 564,190 732,880 168,690 29.9
Under 25 years 59,140 77,690 18,550 31.4
25 to 54 years 399,650 515,520 115,870 29.0
55 years and over 105,400 139,680 34,280 32.5
Men 359,960 466,380 106,420 29.6
Under 25 years 44,200 56,410 12,210 27.6
25 to 54 years 247,020 320,160 73,140 29.6
55 years and over 68,730 89,810 21,080 30.7
Women 204,240 266,510 62,270 30.5
Under 25 years 14,940 21,280 6,340 42.4
25 to 54 years 152,630 195,360 42,730 28.0
55 years and over 36,670 49,870 13,200 36.0
Newfoundland and Labrador        
Both sexes 39,980 42,330 2,350 5.9
Under 25 years 3,610 3,960 350 9.7
25 to 54 years 27,540 28,690 1,150 4.2
55 years and over 8,840 9,690 850 9.6
Men 23,630 25,490 1,860 7.9
Women 16,360 16,850 490 3.0
Prince Edward Island        
Both sexes 9,930 10,490 560 5.6
Under 25 years 910 1,010 100 11.0
25 to 54 years 6,560 6,800 240 3.7
55 years and over 2,460 2,680 220 8.9
Men 5,910 6,210 300 5.1
Women 4,030 4,280 250 6.2
Nova Scotia        
Both sexes 29,640 33,080 3,440 11.6
Under 25 years 3,070 3,530 460 15.0
25 to 54 years 20,600 22,640 2,040 9.9
55 years and over 5,970 6,910 940 15.7
Men 17,940 19,980 2,040 11.4
Women 11,700 13,090 1,390 11.9
New Brunswick        
Both sexes 33,870 37,140 3,270 9.7
Under 25 years 2,860 3,200 340 11.9
25 to 54 years 23,690 25,460 1,770 7.5
55 years and over 7,310 8,480 1,170 16.0
Men 22,150 24,030 1,880 8.5
Women 11,710 13,110 1,400 12.0
Quebec        
Both sexes 182,970 201,590 18,620 10.2
Under 25 years 20,890 22,300 1,410 6.7
25 to 54 years 127,280 138,830 11,550 9.1
55 years and over 34,800 40,460 5,660 16.3
Men 119,120 130,000 10,880 9.1
Women 63,850 71,590 7,740 12.1
Ontario        
Both sexes 163,040 225,340 62,300 38.2
Under 25 years 16,150 21,970 5,820 36.0
25 to 54 years 120,710 164,520 43,810 36.3
55 years and over 26,180 38,860 12,680 48.4
Men 104,310 141,240 36,930 35.4
Women 58,720 84,110 25,390 43.2
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.

Table 3

Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by age group, sex, province and territory
  December 2008 December 2009p December 2008 to December 2009 December 2008 to December 2009
  Unadjusted for seasonality
  number change in number % change
Manitoba        
Both sexes 12,320 16,830 4,510 36.6
Under 25 years 1,590 2,260 670 42.1
25 to 54 years 8,550 11,580 3,030 35.4
55 years and over 2,190 2,990 800 36.5
Men 8,740 12,030 3,290 37.6
Women 3,580 4,800 1,220 34.1
Saskatchewan        
Both sexes 9,910 13,580 3,670 37.0
Under 25 years 1,070 1,660 590 55.1
25 to 54 years 6,680 9,220 2,540 38.0
55 years and over 2,160 2,700 540 25.0
Men 7,070 9,750 2,680 37.9
Women 2,840 3,820 980 34.5
Alberta        
Both sexes 22,050 60,410 38,360 174.0
Under 25 years 2,330 7,120 4,790 205.6
25 to 54 years 15,630 43,580 27,950 178.8
55 years and over 4,090 9,710 5,620 137.4
Men 13,690 40,050 26,360 192.5
Women 8,360 20,360 12,000 143.5
British Columbia        
Both sexes 57,910 89,040 31,130 53.8
Under 25 years 6,430 10,360 3,930 61.1
25 to 54 years 40,480 61,980 21,500 53.1
55 years and over 11,010 16,700 5,690 51.7
Men 35,740 55,540 19,800 55.4
Women 22,170 33,490 11,320 51.1
Yukon        
Both sexes 1,150 1,330 180 15.7
Under 25 years 100 130 30 30.0
25 to 54 years 790 900 110 13.9
55 years and over 250 300 50 20.0
Men 740 880 140 18.9
Women 410 450 40 9.8
Northwest Territories        
Both sexes 820 1,020 200 24.4
Under 25 years 80 100 20 25.0
25 to 54 years 620 760 140 22.6
55 years and over 120 150 30 25.0
Men 560 700 140 25.0
Women 260 320 60 23.1
Nunavut        
Both sexes 440 520 80 18.2
Under 25 years 50 60 10 20.0
25 to 54 years 360 410 50 13.9
55 years and over 40 50 10 25.0
Men 320 390 70 21.9
Women 120 130 10 8.3
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.

Table 4

Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by census metropolitan areas
  December 2008 December 2009p December 2008 to December 2009 December 2008 to December 2009
  Unadjusted for seasonality
  number change in number % change
Newfoundland and Labrador        
St. John's 4,420 5,340 920 20.8
Nova Scotia        
Halifax 4,770 6,000 1,230 25.8
New Brunswick        
Saint John 1,820 2,540 720 39.6
Quebec        
Saguenay 4,840 5,010 170 3.5
Québec 10,310 11,440 1,130 11.0
Sherbrooke 3,180 3,400 220 6.9
Trois-Rivières 3,840 3,970 130 3.4
Montréal 55,480 70,670 15,190 27.4
Ottawa–Gatineau, Gatineau part 2,920 3,390 470 16.1
Ontario        
Ottawa–Gatineau, Ottawa part 5,500 7,770 2,270 41.3
Kingston 1,250 1,770 520 41.6
Oshawa 4,040 6,350 2,310 57.2
Toronto 58,620 87,490 28,870 49.2
Hamilton 7,280 10,880 3,600 49.5
St. Catharines–Niagara 7,140 9,900 2,760 38.7
Kitchener 6,260 8,760 2,500 39.9
London 7,440 8,000 560 7.5
Windsor 6,370 6,580 210 3.3
Greater Sudbury 2,260 4,690 2,430 107.5
Thunder Bay 1,820 2,480 660 36.3
Manitoba        
Winnipeg 5,520 8,710 3,190 57.8
Saskatchewan        
Regina 1,120 1,750 630 56.3
Saskatoon 1,350 2,310 960 71.1
Alberta        
Calgary 6,310 19,640 13,330 211.3
Edmonton 6,700 17,260 10,560 157.6
British Columbia        
Abbotsford–Mission 3,070 4,590 1,520 49.5
Vancouver 20,820 35,920 15,100 72.5
Victoria 2,580 4,470 1,890 73.3
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.