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In August, 671,200 people received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, virtually unchanged from July.
The number of beneficiaries in July and August has eased back to levels recorded in March, after rising slightly during the second quarter of the year.
Since peaking in June 2009, the number has fallen by 158,100. This decline has offset almost half of the increase of 329,000 observed during the 2008/2009 labour market downturn.
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.
While the number of beneficiaries was little changed in August, the number of initial and renewal claims increased by 8,100 from July to 258,700.
Since March 2010, the number of claims has been trending up, increasing by an average of 5,700 a month. The recent increases contrast with the period from May 2009 to March 2010, when the number of claims received was on a downward trend. During that period, the number declined by an average of 9,800 a month, with decreases in every province.
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 October, 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 July and August 2010 are preliminary. In this release, large centres correspond to those with a population of 10,000 or more.
The number of beneficiaries is a measure of all persons who received EI benefits from the 15th to the 21st of August. 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 are 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 reflects various situations, including people becoming beneficiaries, people going back to work, and people exhausting their regular benefits.
In August, the number of claims received increased in all provinces, except for Manitoba and Alberta, where there were slight declines.
Since March, the number of claims has risen in every province, with the largest increases in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.
In Ontario, the number of beneficiaries decreased for the third consecutive month, falling by 3,900 in August to 205,300. Since the peak in June 2009, the number of beneficiaries in Ontario has fallen by 81,400 (-28.4%).
For Alberta, it was the 10th consecutive monthly decline, as the number of people receiving regular benefits fell by 2,200 (-4.7%) in August to 44,500.
In British Columbia, the August decrease of 2,200 was the largest of three consecutive declines. Since the June 2009 peak, the number of beneficiaries in the province has fallen by 15,400 (-16.4%) to 78,800.
Following two months of increases in Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of beneficiaries declined by 1,000 in August to 39,000.
In Quebec, 190,200 people received regular benefits in August, up 2,600 from July. Despite this increase, the number of beneficiaries in Quebec has fallen by 19,800 (-9.4%) since the peak in June 2009.
Employment Insurance data by sub-provincial region, sex and age are not seasonally adjusted. Therefore, they are compared on a year-over-year basis.
In August, the number of regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries fell in 115 of the 143 large centres compared with August 2009. Large centres are those with a population of 10,000 or more.
All five large centres in Newfoundland and Labrador had fewer employment insurance beneficiaries in August. In St. John's, the number of beneficiaries fell by 310 to 5,100, the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. The fastest rate of decrease in the province occurred in Labrador City, which has consistently registered fewer beneficiaries in all eight months of 2010 on a year-over-year basis.
In Quebec, the number of beneficiaries fell in 26 of its 33 large centres between August 2009 and August 2010. The fastest declines occurred in Sorel-Tracy, Val-d'Or, Dolbeau-Mistassini, Granby and Baie-Comeau. In Montréal, the number of beneficiaries fell by 5,100, the largest of six consecutive monthly year-over-year declines. In contrast, the number of beneficiaries in the census metropolitan area of Québec rose by 600, the third consecutive month of year-over-year increases.
There were declines in the number of beneficiaries in 35 of Ontario's 41 large centres in the 12 months to August. The largest percentage declines occurred in Chatham-Kent, Guelph and Woodstock. In Greater Sudbury, 1,400 fewer people received regular benefits, similar to the year-over-year decline for the previous month. There were also notable drops in the census metropolitan areas of Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo and Windsor. In Toronto, 91,900 people received benefits in August, down 20,100 from 12 months earlier.
All of Alberta's 12 large centres had fewer beneficiaries in August compared with August 2009. The pace of decline in the number of beneficiaries was fastest in Brooks, Grande Prairie, Red Deer and Medicine Hat. For the fifth consecutive month, there were fewer beneficiaries in Calgary and Edmonton. In Calgary, the number of beneficiaries fell by 6,400 to 15,700, the largest of five consecutive monthly year-over-year declines. In Edmonton, the number of beneficiaries declined by 3,500 to 15,900.
Most of British Columbia's large centres had fewer beneficiaries. The rate of decline was most pronounced in Williams Lake, Fort St. John, Port Alberni and Penticton. In Vancouver, 36,300 people received regular benefits in August, down 2,800 from 12 months earlier. The number of beneficiaries also fell by 710 to 2,500 in Prince George and by 510 to 4,000 in Victoria.
Between August 2009 and August 2010, the number of male EI regular beneficiaries fell by 84,800 to 337,500 (-20.1%), extending the trend of slower year-over-year declines that was first observed last March.
In contrast, the number of female regular beneficiaries fell at a slower rate than males over the same period, down 9,800 (-2.7%) to 345,600. This was their third consecutive month of year-over-year declines.
Among men, the fastest rates of decline occurred for the age group 24 and under, where beneficiaries were down by 15,700 (-31.5%). There was also a 22.4% decline among men aged 25 to 54, and a 3.3% decrease among those aged 55 and over.
For women, the number of beneficiaries decreased by 3,400 (-14.3%) among those aged 24 and under, and by 11,700 (-4.3%) among those aged 25 to 54. In contrast, the number of female beneficiaries aged 55 and over increased by 5,400 (+9.1%).
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 Key resource module of our website under Summary tables, choose Subject then Labour.
Data on Employment Insurance for September will be released on November 17.
A set of maps, Employment Insurance Statistics Maps, August 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) or Dominique Pérusse (613-951-4064), Labour Statistics Division.
July 2010p | August 2010p | July to August 2010 | August 2009 to August 2010 | July to August 2010 | August 2009 to August 2010 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
number | change in number | % change | ||||
Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits | ||||||
Canada | 671,960 | 671,210 | -750 | -96,480 | -0.1 | -12.6 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 40,060 | 39,040 | -1,020 | -4,120 | -2.5 | -9.5 |
Prince Edward Island | 8,590 | 8,600 | 10 | -130 | 0.1 | -1.5 |
Nova Scotia | 33,350 | 33,660 | 310 | -450 | 0.9 | -1.3 |
New Brunswick | 34,490 | 34,220 | -270 | -2,900 | -0.8 | -7.8 |
Quebec | 187,670 | 190,220 | 2,550 | -17,070 | 1.4 | -8.2 |
Ontario | 209,200 | 205,290 | -3,910 | -45,960 | -1.9 | -18.3 |
Manitoba | 15,370 | 15,180 | -190 | 430 | -1.2 | 2.9 |
Saskatchewan | 12,600 | 12,390 | -210 | -740 | -1.7 | -5.6 |
Alberta | 46,760 | 44,540 | -2,220 | -13,490 | -4.7 | -23.2 |
British Columbia | 80,970 | 78,750 | -2,220 | -9,330 | -2.7 | -10.6 |
Yukon | 1,010 | 970 | -40 | -160 | -4.0 | -14.2 |
Northwest Territories | 880 | 890 | 10 | -120 | 1.1 | -11.9 |
Nunavut | 540 | 540 | 0 | 20 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
Initial and renewal claims received | ||||||
Canada | 250,570 | 258,650 | 8,080 | -33,680 | 3.2 | -11.5 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 9,020 | 9,260 | 240 | -360 | 2.7 | -3.7 |
Prince Edward Island | 2,390 | 2,750 | 360 | 170 | 15.1 | 6.6 |
Nova Scotia | 9,930 | 10,570 | 640 | 180 | 6.4 | 1.7 |
New Brunswick | 10,440 | 10,680 | 240 | 60 | 2.3 | 0.6 |
Quebec | 71,640 | 73,430 | 1,790 | -9,250 | 2.5 | -11.2 |
Ontario | 81,630 | 83,110 | 1,480 | -15,720 | 1.8 | -15.9 |
Manitoba | 8,240 | 8,050 | -190 | -920 | -2.3 | -10.3 |
Saskatchewan | 5,840 | 6,420 | 580 | -190 | 9.9 | -2.9 |
Alberta | 20,940 | 20,670 | -270 | -5,060 | -1.3 | -19.7 |
British Columbia | 30,840 | 31,150 | 310 | -3,850 | 1.0 | -11.0 |
Yukon | 320 | 330 | 10 | -10 | 3.1 | -2.9 |
Northwest Territories | 320 | 360 | 40 | 30 | 12.5 | 9.1 |
Nunavut | 180 | 210 | 30 | 30 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
August 2009 | August 2010p | August 2009 to August 2010 | August 2009 to August 2010 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unadjusted for seasonality | ||||
number | change in number | % change | ||
Canada | ||||
Both sexes | 777,670 | 683,100 | -94,570 | -12.2 |
Under 25 years | 73,880 | 54,750 | -19,130 | -25.9 |
25 to 54 years | 568,530 | 490,150 | -78,380 | -13.8 |
55 years and over | 135,260 | 138,210 | 2,950 | 2.2 |
Men | 422,260 | 337,460 | -84,800 | -20.1 |
Under 25 years | 49,750 | 34,070 | -15,680 | -31.5 |
25 to 54 years | 296,940 | 230,300 | -66,640 | -22.4 |
55 years and over | 75,570 | 73,090 | -2,480 | -3.3 |
Women | 355,410 | 345,640 | -9,770 | -2.7 |
Under 25 years | 24,120 | 20,680 | -3,440 | -14.3 |
25 to 54 years | 271,590 | 259,850 | -11,740 | -4.3 |
55 years and over | 59,690 | 65,120 | 5,430 | 9.1 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||
Both sexes | 36,000 | 33,200 | -2,800 | -7.8 |
Under 25 years | 3,970 | 3,240 | -730 | -18.4 |
25 to 54 years | 24,110 | 21,700 | -2,410 | -10.0 |
55 years and over | 7,920 | 8,270 | 350 | 4.4 |
Men | 21,120 | 18,540 | -2,580 | -12.2 |
Women | 14,880 | 14,660 | -220 | -1.5 |
Prince Edward Island | ||||
Both sexes | 6,630 | 6,510 | -120 | -1.8 |
Under 25 years | 760 | 750 | -10 | -1.3 |
25 to 54 years | 4,510 | 4,310 | -200 | -4.4 |
55 years and over | 1,350 | 1,460 | 110 | 8.1 |
Men | 3,750 | 3,760 | 10 | 0.3 |
Women | 2,880 | 2,750 | -130 | -4.5 |
Nova Scotia | ||||
Both sexes | 31,980 | 31,980 | 0 | 0.0 |
Under 25 years | 3,320 | 3,080 | -240 | -7.2 |
25 to 54 years | 22,670 | 22,020 | -650 | -2.9 |
55 years and over | 5,990 | 6,880 | 890 | 14.9 |
Men | 18,240 | 17,660 | -580 | -3.2 |
Women | 13,740 | 14,320 | 580 | 4.2 |
New Brunswick | ||||
Both sexes | 32,100 | 30,130 | -1,970 | -6.1 |
Under 25 years | 2,890 | 2,600 | -290 | -10.0 |
25 to 54 years | 22,770 | 20,690 | -2,080 | -9.1 |
55 years and over | 6,440 | 6,840 | 400 | 6.2 |
Men | 17,590 | 15,820 | -1,770 | -10.1 |
Women | 14,510 | 14,310 | -200 | -1.4 |
Quebec | ||||
Both sexes | 196,420 | 182,380 | -14,040 | -7.1 |
Under 25 years | 18,630 | 15,280 | -3,350 | -18.0 |
25 to 54 years | 141,410 | 129,050 | -12,360 | -8.7 |
55 years and over | 36,380 | 38,050 | 1,670 | 4.6 |
Men | 104,450 | 92,290 | -12,160 | -11.6 |
Women | 91,970 | 90,080 | -1,890 | -2.1 |
Ontario | ||||
Both sexes | 277,290 | 229,390 | -47,900 | -17.3 |
Under 25 years | 22,560 | 15,440 | -7,120 | -31.6 |
25 to 54 years | 208,500 | 168,850 | -39,650 | -19.0 |
55 years and over | 46,240 | 45,100 | -1,140 | -2.5 |
Men | 145,820 | 105,780 | -40,040 | -27.5 |
Women | 131,470 | 123,610 | -7,860 | -6.0 |
August 2009 | August 2010p | August 2009 to August 2010 | August 2009 to August 2010 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unadjusted for seasonality | ||||
number | change in number | % change | ||
Manitoba | ||||
Both sexes | 19,720 | 19,660 | -60 | -0.3 |
Under 25 years | 1,700 | 1,490 | -210 | -12.4 |
25 to 54 years | 14,660 | 14,520 | -140 | -1.0 |
55 years and over | 3,360 | 3,650 | 290 | 8.6 |
Men | 8,840 | 8,490 | -350 | -4.0 |
Women | 10,870 | 11,170 | 300 | 2.8 |
Saskatchewan | ||||
Both sexes | 15,480 | 14,530 | -950 | -6.1 |
Under 25 years | 1,590 | 1,130 | -460 | -28.9 |
25 to 54 years | 11,280 | 10,630 | -650 | -5.8 |
55 years and over | 2,610 | 2,770 | 160 | 6.1 |
Men | 7,270 | 6,050 | -1,220 | -16.8 |
Women | 8,210 | 8,480 | 270 | 3.3 |
Alberta | ||||
Both sexes | 68,020 | 51,160 | -16,860 | -24.8 |
Under 25 years | 8,230 | 4,340 | -3,890 | -47.3 |
25 to 54 years | 50,220 | 37,350 | -12,870 | -25.6 |
55 years and over | 9,570 | 9,470 | -100 | -1.0 |
Men | 41,030 | 25,770 | -15,260 | -37.2 |
Women | 26,990 | 25,390 | -1,600 | -5.9 |
British Columbia | ||||
Both sexes | 91,770 | 82,050 | -9,720 | -10.6 |
Under 25 years | 10,000 | 7,240 | -2,760 | -27.6 |
25 to 54 years | 66,690 | 59,380 | -7,310 | -11.0 |
55 years and over | 15,080 | 15,430 | 350 | 2.3 |
Men | 52,840 | 42,200 | -10,640 | -20.1 |
Women | 38,930 | 39,850 | 920 | 2.4 |
Yukon | ||||
Both sexes | 710 | 610 | -100 | -14.1 |
Under 25 years | 70 | 50 | -20 | -28.6 |
25 to 54 years | 480 | 440 | -40 | -8.3 |
55 years and over | 150 | 120 | -30 | -20.0 |
Men | 420 | 310 | -110 | -26.2 |
Women | 280 | 300 | 20 | 7.1 |
Northwest Territories | ||||
Both sexes | 880 | 790 | -90 | -10.2 |
Under 25 years | 100 | 80 | -20 | -20.0 |
25 to 54 years | 680 | 600 | -80 | -11.8 |
55 years and over | 100 | 110 | 10 | 10.0 |
Men | 500 | 400 | -100 | -20.0 |
Women | 380 | 390 | 10 | 2.6 |
Nunavut | ||||
Both sexes | 510 | 540 | 30 | 5.9 |
Under 25 years | 70 | 40 | -30 | -42.9 |
25 to 54 years | 400 | 450 | 50 | 12.5 |
55 years and over | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0.0 |
Men | 310 | 320 | 10 | 3.2 |
Women | 200 | 220 | 20 | 10.0 |
August 2009 | August 2010p | August 2009 to August 2010 | August 2009 to August 2010 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unadjusted for seasonality | ||||
number | change in number | % change | ||
Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||
St. John's | 5,440 | 5,130 | -310 | -5.7 |
Nova Scotia | ||||
Halifax | 6,850 | 6,340 | -510 | -7.4 |
New Brunswick | ||||
Saint John | 2,700 | 3,230 | 530 | 19.6 |
Quebec | ||||
Saguenay | 4,660 | 4,100 | -560 | -12.0 |
Québec | 12,280 | 12,880 | 600 | 4.9 |
Sherbrooke | 3,860 | 3,250 | -610 | -15.8 |
Trois-Rivières | 4,120 | 4,080 | -40 | -1.0 |
Montréal | 80,360 | 75,250 | -5,110 | -6.4 |
Ottawa–Gatineau, Gatineau part | 4,180 | 4,330 | 150 | 3.6 |
Ontario | ||||
Ottawa–Gatineau, Ottawa part | 10,090 | 10,300 | 210 | 2.1 |
Kingston | 2,270 | 2,290 | 20 | 0.9 |
Oshawa | 8,300 | 6,810 | -1,490 | -18.0 |
Toronto | 111,970 | 91,880 | -20,090 | -17.9 |
Hamilton | 14,380 | 11,620 | -2,760 | -19.2 |
St. Catharines–Niagara | 10,440 | 8,810 | -1,630 | -15.6 |
Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 11,580 | 8,180 | -3,400 | -29.4 |
London | 10,130 | 8,280 | -1,850 | -18.3 |
Windsor | 9,490 | 6,820 | -2,670 | -28.1 |
Greater Sudbury | 4,960 | 3,590 | -1,370 | -27.6 |
Thunder Bay | 2,760 | 2,310 | -450 | -16.3 |
Manitoba | ||||
Winnipeg | 10,720 | 10,800 | 80 | 0.7 |
Saskatchewan | ||||
Regina | 1,950 | 1,880 | -70 | -3.6 |
Saskatoon | 3,020 | 3,220 | 200 | 6.6 |
Alberta | ||||
Calgary | 22,130 | 15,700 | -6,430 | -29.1 |
Edmonton | 19,330 | 15,860 | -3,470 | -18.0 |
British Columbia | ||||
Abbotsford–Mission | 3,340 | 3,140 | -200 | -6.0 |
Vancouver | 39,150 | 36,310 | -2,840 | -7.3 |
Victoria | 4,530 | 4,020 | -510 | -11.3 |