Employment Insurance

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The number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits in August fell 2.4% (-19,100) from July, the second consecutive monthly decline. Decreases occurred in nearly all provinces, with the most notable percentage declines in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

There were 763,200 beneficiaries in August, up 52.5% from October 2008.

The number of initial and renewal claims received in August increased 8.2% (+22,500) to 298,300, following two months of declines.

EI statistics provide unique insight on which areas of the country are being affected by the current economic situation. Compared with August 2008, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits was higher in all census metropolitan areas (see map). Calgary and Edmonton continued to show the largest year-over-year increase. In Vancouver, Greater Sudbury, Victoria, Abbotsford–Mission and Kitchener, the number of regular EI beneficiaries more than doubled from August 2008 to August 2009.

Fewer beneficiaries in most provinces in August compared with July

In August, the number of beneficiaries fell 8.7% (-4,100) in Newfoundland and Labrador to 43,600. This was the first decline for the province since the start of the labour market downturn in the fall of 2008.

In Ontario, the number of regular EI beneficiaries fell by 14,800 (-5.6%) to 247,400, the second consecutive monthly decline. Prior to these two declines, the number of beneficiaries had increased at an average pace of 16,500 a month between October and June.

In Saskatchewan, 13,000 people received regular EI benefits in August, down 730 (-5.3%) from July. It was also the province's second consecutive monthly decline, and followed monthly increases averaging 740 from October to June.

Manitoba experienced its third consecutive monthly decrease in the number of beneficiaries. In August, the number fell by 690 (-4.5%) to 14,500.

Quebec and New Brunswick were the only provinces with an increase in the number of beneficiaries in August. In Quebec, 208,000 people received benefits in August, up 9,700 (+4.9%), following a decline in July. The number of beneficiaries in New Brunswick edged up 650 to 37,100 in August.

Sub-provincial and demographic overview

Continued large year-over-year increases in EI beneficiaries in large centres in the West while increases moderated in Ontario

EI data by sub-provincial region, sex and age are not seasonally adjusted. They are, therefore, compared on a year-over-year basis.

The largest centres of Alberta continued to experience the fastest rates of increase in the number of regular beneficiaries compared with 12 months earlier. In Calgary, the number of people receiving regular benefits increased sharply from 5,700 in August 2008 to 22,100 in August 2009. Over the same period, the number of beneficiaries in Edmonton increased by 12,800 to 19,200. These steep increases coincided with year-over-year employment losses for the province in several sectors: manufacturing; construction; retail and wholesale trade; professional, scientific and technical services; and oil and gas.

In British Columbia, 13 of the 25 large centres had twice as many beneficiaries compared with a year ago. In Vancouver, the number of beneficiaries increased from 17,200 in August 2008 to 39,000 in August 2009. At the same time, the number of recipients increased by 2,300 to 4,500 in Victoria. Over the year-long period, the largest employment losses in the province were in construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, as well as accommodation and food services.

In Ontario, the number of EI recipients more than doubled in 4 of its 41 large centres for the 12-month period ending in August. This contrasts with year-over-year increases ending in May and June when the number of beneficiaries at least doubled in more than half of the large centres in the province.

Several large centres in the southern part of Ontario contributed to the slower year-over-year increase in the number of beneficiaries. For example, in Windsor, the number of EI recipients increased by 50.1% from August 2008 to August 2009, much slower than earlier year-over-year increases. In Toronto, the number of beneficiaries increased by 75.3% or 47,700 between August 2008 and August 2009, the lowest 12-month increase since April.

In the northern part of Ontario, Greater Sudbury continued to experience a sharp year-over-year increase in the number of EI recipients, up from 2,400 in August 2008 to 4,900 in August 2009. At the same time, employment in Greater Sudbury declined, mostly in the natural resources sector.

Lower year-over-year growth was observed in several large centres in Quebec. In Montréal, the number of regular beneficiaries increased by 37.3% to 80,000 over the 12 months ending in August, slightly slower than in previous months. In the census metropolitan area of Québec, the number of beneficiaries rose by 18.3% between August 2008 and August 2009, the slowest year-over-year increase since January. This contrasts with Sorel–Tracy, where the number of beneficiaries rose sharply by 152.8% to 1,800 in August 2009, the fastest year-over-year increase in that centre since the start of the labour market downturn last fall.

Fastest rate of growth among youths

The downturn in the labour market has affected young people the most. In August, the number of youths under 25 receiving EI benefits nearly doubled (+94.0%) compared with August 2008. The increase was most pronounced for young men (+114.5%), while it was slower among young women (+61.9%).

The number of EI recipients aged 25 to 54 increased by 53.5% to 565,100 over the 12 months ending in August, with the sharpest increase among men in this age group (+84.1%). The number of female beneficiaries aged 25 to 54 grew more slowly (+29.9%) over the same period.

The number of beneficiaries aged 55 and over increased 49.3% from August 2008 to August 2009. Among men aged 55 and over, the number rose by 64.6%, nearly twice as fast as the increase among women (+33.6%) in the same age group.

More claims received in August

To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. These provide an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.

Following declines in June and July, initial and renewal claims received in August were up 8.2% (+22,500), returning to about the same level as in June. Increases occurred in most provinces, most notably in British Columbia (+9.9%), Ontario (+8.9%) and Saskatchewan (+8.9%). Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province where the number of claims declined (-0.5%).

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 By subject module of our website, choose Labour.

Data on Employment Insurance for September will be released on November 24.

A set of maps, Employment Insurance Statistics Maps, August 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 Publications module of our website, under All subjects, choose 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.