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Employment Insurance, February 2018

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Released: 2018-04-19

The number of regular Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries decreased by 11,300 or 2.3% in February to 480,200, the lowest level since comparable data became available in 1997.

There were fewer beneficiaries in seven provinces, led by Ontario (-3.5%), New Brunswick (-3.4%) and Nova Scotia (-3.2%). Declines were also observed in Prince Edward Island (-2.5%), Quebec (-2.3%), Alberta (-1.9%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (-1.2%). There was little change in the remaining provinces.

On a year-over-year basis, the number of EI recipients in Canada fell by 13.0%.

In general, variations in the number of beneficiaries can reflect changes in the circumstances in a number of different groups, including those becoming beneficiaries, those going back to work, those exhausting their regular benefits, and those no longer receiving benefits for other reasons.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries
Regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries

Provincial and sub-provincial overview

In Ontario, 121,900 people received EI regular benefits in February, down 3.5% from January. Declines were widespread across the province, most notably in the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Oshawa (-12.0%). This coincides with a partial recovery in exports of motor vehicles and parts following atypical plant closures in the automotive industry in January. On a year-over-year basis, the number of EI recipients in Ontario was down by 10.4% in February.

The number of beneficiaries in New Brunswick fell for the third consecutive month, down 3.4% to 30,000 in February. Decreases were observed throughout the province, led by declines across the census agglomerations (CAs) (-4.7%). In the 12 months to February, the number of beneficiaries in the province declined by 10.7%, driven by decreases in the previous three months.

In Nova Scotia, the number of EI recipients decreased by 3.2% to 26,700 in February, led by declines in areas outside of the CMA and CAs (-4.6%). Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of beneficiaries in the province was down by 8.6%.

The number of people receiving EI benefits in Prince Edward Island declined by 2.5% to 7,900. On a year-over-year basis, the number of recipients fell by 2.2%.

In Quebec, the number of EI beneficiaries decreased by 2.3% to 111,700 in February, continuing a long-term downward trend. Decreases were observed across the province, including in five of the six CMAs, led by Ottawa–Gatineau (Quebec part) (-5.1%). In the 12 months to February, the number of beneficiaries in the province decreased by 15.9%. Data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show that the provincial unemployment rate fell from 6.4% to 5.6% over the same period.

In Alberta, the number of EI recipients fell by 1.9% to 62,100, the first decline in four months. Decreases were observed throughout the province, led by the CAs (-3.1%). Despite the number of beneficiaries staying relatively flat in recent months, Alberta recorded the fastest year-over-year decline among the provinces at 26.7%, due to notable decreases in the first half of 2017. Data from the LFS show that, in the 12 months to February, the provincial unemployment rate fell from 8.2% to 6.7%.

The number of beneficiaries in Newfoundland and Labrador declined by 1.2% to 37,700 in February. Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of beneficiaries in the province edged up by 0.9%. Data from the LFS show little change in the level of employment or the unemployment rate in the province over the same period.

There were 17,800 EI beneficiaries in Saskatchewan in February, little changed from the previous month. However, declines were observed in the CAs (-2.3%) and in the CMA of Saskatoon (-1.4%). On a year-over-year basis, the number of beneficiaries in the province was down 2.1%.

The number of beneficiaries in British Columbia was little changed, totalling 45,400 in February. Decreases in the CAs (-2.0%) were partially offset by an increase in the CMA of Vancouver (+1.2%). In the 12 months to February, the number of EI recipients in the province declined by 15.4%.

In Manitoba, the number of EI beneficiaries held steady at 15,800 in February, with little change across the province. Compared with 12 months earlier, the number edged up by 0.8%.

Employment Insurance beneficiaries by occupation

For the sixth consecutive month, the number of beneficiaries fell on a year-over-year basis in 9 of the 10 broad occupational groups. The largest declines in the 12 months to February were among those whose last job was in natural and applied sciences (-20.8%); manufacturing and utilities (-16.3%); trades, transport and equipment operators (-15.7%); and business, finance and administration (-15.4%).

The number of beneficiaries whose last job was in education, law and social, community and government services edged up by 0.9% compared with February 2017.

Chart 2  Chart 2: Regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries by occupation, February 2017 to February 2018
Regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries by occupation, February 2017 to February 2018

Employment Insurance beneficiaries in major demographic groups

There were fewer EI recipients among both men (-3.1%) and women (-1.0%) in February compared with January. For men, declines were observed across all major age groups, led by young men aged 15 to 24 (-5.6%). Among women, there were declines for youth (-2.7%) and those aged 25 to 54 (-1.1%), while there was little change for women aged 55 and older.

On a year-over-year basis, the number of beneficiaries declined in all major demographic groups, led notably by men aged 15 to 24 (-21.4%). This coincides with declining unemployment rates for all demographic groups over the same period, as observed in the LFS. Decreases in the number of beneficiaries were faster for men than for women across all age groups.

Employment Insurance claims

The number of claims totalled 224,300 in February, down 5.3% from January. The number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.

Claims decreased notably in Ontario (-9.1%), Quebec (-7.0%) and New Brunswick (-6.7%). Smaller decreases were observed in Manitoba (-3.7%), Prince Edward Island (-2.4%) and Nova Scotia (-1.6%). At the same time, the number of claims increased in Saskatchewan (+3.9%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (+1.1%), while there was little change in Alberta and British Columbia.

In the 12 months to February, claims decreased by 2.9% nationally.

Chart 3  Chart 3: Employment Insurance claims
Employment Insurance claims





  Note to readers

Concepts and methodology

The analysis presented here focuses on people who received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits related to job loss. Claims data pertain to initial and renewal claims received for any type of EI benefits, including special benefits.

As of December 3, 2017, the EI program was modified for workers taking time off due to specific life events. Extended parental benefits were introduced, allowing parents to receive benefits for up to 18 months, as opposed to 12 months, at a lower rate. Pregnant workers now have more flexibility and can start receiving maternity benefits up to 12 weeks before the expected date of childbirth, compared with 8 weeks previously. Furthermore, the family caregiver benefit for adults was introduced and offered to any family member, or person considered to be like family, who provides care or support to a critically ill or injured adult. The parents of critically ill children benefit was renamed "family caregiver benefits for children," and was made accessible to any family member or person considered to be like family, to provide care or support to a critically ill or injured child. CANSIM tables 276-0017 and 276-0020 were expanded to reflect changes to benefit types.

More information on the December 2017 EI changes is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) website.

EI statistics are produced from administrative data sources provided by Service Canada and ESDC. These statistics may, from time to time, be affected by changes to the Employment Insurance Act or administrative procedures.

Regular EI benefits are available to eligible individuals who lose their jobs and who are available for and able to work, but cannot find a job. To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim.

EI statistics indicate the number of people who received EI benefits, and should not be confused with Labour Force Survey (LFS) data, which provide estimates of 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.

All data in this release are seasonally adjusted. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.

Numbers in the Daily text are rounded to the nearest hundred.

The number of regular EI beneficiaries and the number of claims received for the current and previous month are subject to revision.

The number of beneficiaries is a measure of all people who received EI benefits from February 11 to 17. This period coincides with the reference week of the LFS. However, claims data are for the entire month.

Geographical definitions

A census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a population centre. A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000. A CA must have a population of at least 10,000. See Standard Geographical Classification 2011 – definitions for more information.

Next release

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

Products

More information about the concepts and use of Employment Insurance statistics is available online in the Guide to Employment Insurance Statistics (Catalogue number73-506-G).

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free: 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Martha Patterson (613-299-3942; martha.patterson@canada.ca) or Client Services (toll free: 1-866-873-8788; statcan.labour-travail.statcan@canada.ca), Labour Statistics Division.

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