In 2020, the federal government implemented the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program to provide financial support to employees and self-employed Canadians directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applicants who met the eligibility criteria received $2,000 for an initial four-week period and could reapply for additional periods, eventually extending to 28 weeks to a maximum benefit of $14,000. The program covered the period from March 15 to September 26, 2020.
Of all Canadian workers who earned at least $5,000 in 2019, 35.2% received CERB payments in 2020.
New research published by Statistics Canada in July 2022 compares the proportion of 2010 to 2018 postsecondary graduates who received CERB payments in 2020 by various educational and sociodemographic characteristics, to the proportion of “all workers” who received the CERB.
Results showed that a higher proportion of the most recent graduates (33.4% for 2018) received CERB payments, compared with the least recent graduates (19.9% for 2010). Among those who graduated between 2010 and 2018, regardless of the year of graduation, the proportion who received CERB payments was lower than that among “all workers” (35.2%).
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).