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In June, 691,600 people received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, up slightly (+8,400) from May and the third consecutive month of small increases.
Despite these recent gains, the number of beneficiaries has fallen by 137,700 (-16.6%) since the peak in June 2009.
The number of beneficiaries rose in nine provinces in June, with Ontario registering the only decline. The most notable increases occurred in Quebec and New Brunswick.
More claims submitted
To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. Following small increases in April and May, the number of initial and renewal claims received in June edged up by 4,900 to 238,000.
Note to readers
All data in this release are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.
Each month, Statistics Canada provides analysis of the current labour market situation, using Employment Insurance (EI) statistics and other sources. Earlier this August, 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 May and June 2010 are preliminary. In this release, large centres correspond to census agglomerations and census metropolitan areas.
The number of beneficiaries is a measure of all persons who received EI benefits from the 13th to the 19th of June. This period coincides with the reference week of the LFS.
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, people going back to work, and people exhausting their regular benefits.
The data on employment used in this analysis are drawn from the LFS.
Despite these small recent increases, claims have been on a downward trend since their peak in May 2009. Since then, the number has declined by 89,700 (-27.4%) nationally, with the fastest rates of decline in Ontario (-38.2%), Alberta (-30.6%) and British Columbia (-23.4%).
The number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.
The provinces
In Quebec, the number of EI beneficiaries edged up by 2,100 to 193,400 in June. This follows an increase of 4,100 the month before. The number of beneficiaries in Quebec has fallen by 16,600 (-7.9%) since the June 2009 peak. This downward trend in the number of beneficiaries in Quebec coincided with an increase in employment, which rose in a number of service industries, as well as in construction.
There were also increases in the number of beneficiaries in June in New Brunswick (+1,400), as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador (+900) and in Prince Edward Island (+450).
In Ontario, the only province to record a decline in June, the number of regular beneficiaries fell by 3,000 from May, partly offsetting the increases of the previous two months. Since the peak in June 2009, the number of beneficiaries in Ontario has fallen by 69,800 (-24.4%). During the same period, employment in the province has increased, mostly in construction and several service industries.
There was little change in the number of regular beneficiaries for all other provinces.
Sub-provincial and demographic overview
Employment Insurance data by sub-provincial region, sex and age are not seasonally adjusted. Therefore, they are compared on a year-over-year basis.
Between June 2009 and June 2010, declines in the number of regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries were widespread as 114 of the 143 large centres registered decreases (see map). Large centres are those with a population of 10,000 or more.
In Quebec, there were year-over-year declines in most large centres. The largest percentage declines occurred in Saint-Georges, Sept-Îles and Val-d'Or. In Montréal, the number of beneficiaries fell by 2,400, the fourth consecutive year-over-year decline. In contrast, the number of beneficiaries in the census metropolitan area of Québec rose by 230.
In Atlantic Canada, the number of people receiving benefits in June, compared with June 2009, fell in 11 of its 18 large centres. The fastest year-over-year declines in Atlantic Canada occurred in Labrador City, Bathurst and New Glasgow.
In St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of beneficiaries declined by 340 to 4,400, while in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it decreased by 410 to 5,300. In contrast, the number of beneficiaries rose by 500 to 2,500 in Saint John, New Brunswick.
In Ontario, most large centres posted a decrease between June 2009 and June 2010. The most notable declines were in Windsor, Leamington, Woodstock, Guelph and Stratford. In Toronto, the number fell by 18,200 to 79,200, the largest of four consecutive year-over-year declines.
Between June 2009 and June 2010, the number of regular beneficiaries fell in virtually all large centres in Alberta. The fastest percentage declines occurred in Lloydminster, Red Deer, Brooks and Grande Prairie. The number of beneficiaries fell for the third consecutive month in both Calgary and Edmonton. In Calgary, the number of people receiving regular benefits fell by 4,700 to 14,600, and in Edmonton, it decreased by 2,900 to 13,600.
The number of beneficiaries in British Columbia fell in 20 of its 25 large centres in the year to June 2010. The fastest declines were in Williams Lake, Port Alberni, Cranbrook, Campbell River and Quesnel. In Victoria, the number of beneficiaries declined by 440 to 3,400 and in Vancouver, it fell by 840 to 34,000, the first year-over-year decline in Vancouver since the start of the labour market downturn in the fall of 2008.
Demographic groups
Between June 2009 and June 2010, the number of male EI regular beneficiaries fell by 88,100 to 346,100 (-20.3%). This was the fourth and largest consecutive year-over-year decline since the start of the labour market downturn in October 2008.
The fastest rates of decline occurred among young men under 25 years of age (-30.0%) and men aged 25 to 54 (-22.6%).
The number of female beneficiaries declined at a slower pace during this year-long period, down 2.6% (-6,100). This was the first year-over-year drop in the number of female beneficiaries since the fall of 2008.
The number of female beneficiaries aged 25 to 54 declined by 10,000 (-5.4%), while the number among those under the age of 25 fell by 2,600 (-12.7%). In contrast, the number of female beneficiaries aged 55 and over increased by 6,000 (+15.2%).
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 July will be released on September 23.
A set of maps, Employment Insurance Statistics Maps, June 2010 (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), Labour Statistics Division.
Table 1
| May 2010p | June 2010p | May to June 2010 | June 2009 to June 2010 | May to June 2010 | June 2009 to June 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
| number | change in number | % change | ||||
| Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits | ||||||
| Canada | 683,270 | 691,640 | 8,370 | -137,650 | 1.2 | -16.6 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 37,850 | 38,750 | 900 | -5,900 | 2.4 | -13.2 |
| Prince Edward Island | 8,910 | 9,360 | 450 | 200 | 5.1 | 2.2 |
| Nova Scotia | 32,870 | 33,400 | 530 | -1,670 | 1.6 | -4.8 |
| New Brunswick | 34,240 | 35,620 | 1,380 | -1,900 | 4.0 | -5.1 |
| Quebec | 191,270 | 193,390 | 2,120 | -16,620 | 1.1 | -7.9 |
| Ontario | 219,810 | 216,810 | -3,000 | -69,840 | -1.4 | -24.4 |
| Manitoba | 16,160 | 16,210 | 50 | 590 | 0.3 | 3.8 |
| Saskatchewan | 13,000 | 13,150 | 150 | -1,250 | 1.2 | -8.7 |
| Alberta | 49,470 | 49,780 | 310 | -13,080 | 0.6 | -20.8 |
| British Columbia | 82,520 | 82,670 | 150 | -11,480 | 0.2 | -12.2 |
| Yukon | 1,020 | 1,020 | 0 | -170 | 0.0 | -14.3 |
| Northwest Territories | 890 | 880 | -10 | -150 | -1.1 | -14.6 |
| Nunavut | 520 | 520 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Initial and renewal claims received | ||||||
| Canada | 233,100 | 238,020 | 4,920 | -62,440 | 2.1 | -20.8 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 9,290 | 9,070 | -220 | 130 | -2.4 | 1.5 |
| Prince Edward Island | 2,410 | 2,490 | 80 | -30 | 3.3 | -1.2 |
| Nova Scotia | 9,740 | 10,170 | 430 | -580 | 4.4 | -5.4 |
| New Brunswick | 10,380 | 9,670 | -710 | -610 | -6.8 | -5.9 |
| Quebec | 67,710 | 69,710 | 2,000 | -2,750 | 3.0 | -3.8 |
| Ontario | 69,960 | 70,050 | 90 | -42,480 | 0.1 | -37.7 |
| Manitoba | 7,780 | 7,630 | -150 | -930 | -1.9 | -10.9 |
| Saskatchewan | 5,820 | 6,300 | 480 | -90 | 8.2 | -1.4 |
| Alberta | 18,710 | 19,720 | 1,010 | -5,460 | 5.4 | -21.7 |
| British Columbia | 27,940 | 28,900 | 960 | -7,550 | 3.4 | -20.7 |
| Yukon | 310 | 330 | 20 | 10 | 6.5 | 3.1 |
| Northwest Territories | 290 | 320 | 30 | 10 | 10.3 | 3.2 |
| Nunavut | 190 | 210 | 20 | 50 | 10.5 | 31.3 |
Table 2
| June 2009 | June 2010p | June 2009 to June 2010 | June 2009 to June 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unadjusted for seasonality | ||||
| number | change in number | % change | ||
| Canada | ||||
| Both sexes | 670,470 | 576,300 | -94,170 | -14.0 |
| Under 25 years | 74,170 | 55,390 | -18,780 | -25.3 |
| 25 to 54 years | 483,810 | 404,830 | -78,980 | -16.3 |
| 55 years and over | 112,480 | 116,080 | 3,600 | 3.2 |
| Men | 434,180 | 346,090 | -88,090 | -20.3 |
| Under 25 years | 54,000 | 37,790 | -16,210 | -30.0 |
| 25 to 54 years | 307,160 | 237,680 | -69,480 | -22.6 |
| 55 years and over | 73,020 | 70,620 | -2,400 | -3.3 |
| Women | 236,290 | 230,210 | -6,080 | -2.6 |
| Under 25 years | 20,170 | 17,610 | -2,560 | -12.7 |
| 25 to 54 years | 176,650 | 167,150 | -9,500 | -5.4 |
| 55 years and over | 39,470 | 45,450 | 5,980 | 15.2 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||
| Both sexes | 35,300 | 31,920 | -3,380 | -9.6 |
| Under 25 years | 4,000 | 3,350 | -650 | -16.3 |
| 25 to 54 years | 23,720 | 20,810 | -2,910 | -12.3 |
| 55 years and over | 7,580 | 7,770 | 190 | 2.5 |
| Men | 21,740 | 18,570 | -3,170 | -14.6 |
| Women | 13,560 | 13,360 | -200 | -1.5 |
| Prince Edward Island | ||||
| Both sexes | 5,440 | 5,810 | 370 | 6.8 |
| Under 25 years | 690 | 650 | -40 | -5.8 |
| 25 to 54 years | 3,620 | 3,800 | 180 | 5.0 |
| 55 years and over | 1,130 | 1,360 | 230 | 20.4 |
| Men | 3,220 | 3,290 | 70 | 2.2 |
| Women | 2,230 | 2,520 | 290 | 13.0 |
| Nova Scotia | ||||
| Both sexes | 27,920 | 27,270 | -650 | -2.3 |
| Under 25 years | 3,490 | 3,090 | -400 | -11.5 |
| 25 to 54 years | 19,610 | 18,630 | -980 | -5.0 |
| 55 years and over | 4,820 | 5,550 | 730 | 15.1 |
| Men | 18,220 | 16,620 | -1,600 | -8.8 |
| Women | 9,700 | 10,650 | 950 | 9.8 |
| New Brunswick | ||||
| Both sexes | 27,610 | 26,930 | -680 | -2.5 |
| Under 25 years | 2,880 | 2,520 | -360 | -12.5 |
| 25 to 54 years | 18,850 | 18,020 | -830 | -4.4 |
| 55 years and over | 5,870 | 6,390 | 520 | 8.9 |
| Men | 17,530 | 16,220 | -1,310 | -7.5 |
| Women | 10,080 | 10,710 | 630 | 6.3 |
| Quebec | ||||
| Both sexes | 159,240 | 148,070 | -11,170 | -7.0 |
| Under 25 years | 17,870 | 14,590 | -3,280 | -18.4 |
| 25 to 54 years | 111,360 | 101,460 | -9,900 | -8.9 |
| 55 years and over | 30,000 | 32,020 | 2,020 | 6.7 |
| Men | 99,620 | 90,250 | -9,370 | -9.4 |
| Women | 59,620 | 57,820 | -1,800 | -3.0 |
| Ontario | ||||
| Both sexes | 247,190 | 189,260 | -57,930 | -23.4 |
| Under 25 years | 23,450 | 15,960 | -7,490 | -31.9 |
| 25 to 54 years | 186,170 | 137,830 | -48,340 | -26.0 |
| 55 years and over | 37,580 | 35,470 | -2,110 | -5.6 |
| Men | 159,810 | 110,590 | -49,220 | -30.8 |
| Women | 87,380 | 78,680 | -8,700 | -10.0 |
Table 3
| June 2009 | June 2010p | June 2009 to June 2010 | June 2009 to June 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unadjusted for seasonality | ||||
| number | change in number | % change | ||
| Manitoba | ||||
| Both sexes | 12,000 | 12,320 | 320 | 2.7 |
| Under 25 years | 1,480 | 1,330 | -150 | -10.1 |
| 25 to 54 years | 8,730 | 8,760 | 30 | 0.3 |
| 55 years and over | 1,790 | 2,240 | 450 | 25.1 |
| Men | 8,050 | 7,870 | -180 | -2.2 |
| Women | 3,950 | 4,450 | 500 | 12.7 |
| Saskatchewan | ||||
| Both sexes | 10,560 | 10,060 | -500 | -4.7 |
| Under 25 years | 1,520 | 1,140 | -380 | -25.0 |
| 25 to 54 years | 7,380 | 7,040 | -340 | -4.6 |
| 55 years and over | 1,660 | 1,880 | 220 | 13.3 |
| Men | 7,460 | 6,490 | -970 | -13.0 |
| Women | 3,100 | 3,580 | 480 | 15.5 |
| Alberta | ||||
| Both sexes | 58,980 | 46,420 | -12,560 | -21.3 |
| Under 25 years | 7,880 | 4,520 | -3,360 | -42.6 |
| 25 to 54 years | 43,120 | 33,510 | -9,610 | -22.3 |
| 55 years and over | 7,990 | 8,390 | 400 | 5.0 |
| Men | 40,860 | 28,600 | -12,260 | -30.0 |
| Women | 18,120 | 17,810 | -310 | -1.7 |
| British Columbia | ||||
| Both sexes | 83,870 | 76,050 | -7,820 | -9.3 |
| Under 25 years | 10,650 | 8,040 | -2,610 | -24.5 |
| 25 to 54 years | 59,480 | 53,320 | -6,160 | -10.4 |
| 55 years and over | 13,740 | 14,690 | 950 | 6.9 |
| Men | 56,140 | 46,270 | -9,870 | -17.6 |
| Women | 27,730 | 29,790 | 2,060 | 7.4 |
| Yukon | ||||
| Both sexes | 790 | 700 | -90 | -11.4 |
| Under 25 years | 90 | 80 | -10 | -11.1 |
| 25 to 54 years | 540 | 480 | -60 | -11.1 |
| 55 years and over | 160 | 140 | -20 | -12.5 |
| Men | 520 | 440 | -80 | -15.4 |
| Women | 270 | 260 | -10 | -3.7 |
| Northwest Territories | ||||
| Both sexes | 900 | 810 | -90 | -10.0 |
| Under 25 years | 110 | 90 | -20 | -18.2 |
| 25 to 54 years | 690 | 610 | -80 | -11.6 |
| 55 years and over | 110 | 110 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Men | 590 | 470 | -120 | -20.3 |
| Women | 310 | 340 | 30 | 9.7 |
| Nunavut | ||||
| Both sexes | 510 | 520 | 10 | 2.0 |
| Under 25 years | 60 | 50 | -10 | -16.7 |
| 25 to 54 years | 400 | 420 | 20 | 5.0 |
| 55 years and over | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Men | 360 | 350 | -10 | -2.8 |
| Women | 150 | 170 | 20 | 13.3 |
Table 4
| June 2009 | June 2010p | June 2009 to June 2010 | June 2009 to June 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unadjusted for seasonality | ||||
| number | change in number | % change | ||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||
| St. John's | 4,740 | 4,400 | -340 | -7.2 |
| Nova Scotia | ||||
| Halifax | 5,670 | 5,260 | -410 | -7.2 |
| New Brunswick | ||||
| Saint John | 1,960 | 2,460 | 500 | 25.5 |
| Quebec | ||||
| Saguenay | 3,950 | 3,540 | -410 | -10.4 |
| Québec | 8,720 | 8,950 | 230 | 2.6 |
| Sherbrooke | 3,180 | 2,310 | -870 | -27.4 |
| Trois-Rivières | 3,170 | 3,060 | -110 | -3.5 |
| Montréal | 61,990 | 59,630 | -2,360 | -3.8 |
| Ottawa–Gatineau, Gatineau part | 2,860 | 2,940 | 80 | 2.8 |
| Ontario | ||||
| Ottawa–Gatineau, Ottawa part | 7,010 | 7,330 | 320 | 4.6 |
| Kingston | 1,630 | 1,660 | 30 | 1.8 |
| Oshawa | 7,110 | 5,330 | -1,780 | -25.0 |
| Toronto | 97,430 | 79,230 | -18,200 | -18.7 |
| Hamilton | 12,530 | 8,910 | -3,620 | -28.9 |
| St. Catharines–Niagara | 8,950 | 7,150 | -1,800 | -20.1 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 10,760 | 6,790 | -3,970 | -36.9 |
| London | 9,560 | 6,810 | -2,750 | -28.8 |
| Windsor | 14,390 | 5,680 | -8,710 | -60.5 |
| Greater Sudbury | 3,560 | 3,690 | 130 | 3.7 |
| Thunder Bay | 2,280 | 1,800 | -480 | -21.1 |
| Manitoba | ||||
| Winnipeg | 6,180 | 6,690 | 510 | 8.3 |
| Saskatchewan | ||||
| Regina | 1,240 | 1,270 | 30 | 2.4 |
| Saskatoon | 1,790 | 2,090 | 300 | 16.8 |
| Alberta | ||||
| Calgary | 19,280 | 14,630 | -4,650 | -24.1 |
| Edmonton | 16,460 | 13,600 | -2,860 | -17.4 |
| British Columbia | ||||
| Abbotsford–Mission | 3,440 | 3,460 | 20 | 0.6 |
| Vancouver | 34,820 | 33,980 | -840 | -2.4 |
| Victoria | 3,810 | 3,370 | -440 | -11.5 |
