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May 2010 (Previous release)

The number of regular Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries increased for the first time in eight months, rising by 8,600 to 680,100 in May.

Since the peak of June 2009, monthly declines have offset about one-half of the increase in beneficiaries that occurred during the 2008/2009 recession.

The number of beneficiaries rose in most provinces in May, with the largest increases in Ontario and Quebec.

The downward trend in the number of Employment Insurance beneficiaries halts in May

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 July, 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 April and May 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 9th to the 15th of May. 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.

Increase in number of claims

To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. In May, 231,900 initial and renewal claims were received, an increase of 2,100 from the previous month.

Since the start of the downward trend in claims in May 2009, the number of claims received has declined by 95,800 or 29.2% nationally. The fastest rates of decline occurred in Ontario (-38.3%), Alberta (-35.2%) and British Columbia (-26.2%).

The number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.

The number of Employment Insurance claims received remains close to pre-recession levels

Largest increases in beneficiaries in Ontario and Quebec

In Ontario, the number of people receiving regular benefits increased by 8,200 to 220,900 in May, following an advance of 2,000 in April. Since peaking in June 2009, the number of beneficiaries has declined by 65,700.

In Quebec, the number of EI beneficiaries rose by 4,200 to 190,700 in May, after declining by 23,500 over the preceding 10 months. This coincided with an increase in employment from June 2009 to May 2010 in many services industries, as well as in construction.

In Alberta, the number of EI beneficiaries decreased by 960 to 49,300 in May, the seventh consecutive monthly decline. Since the peak of June 2009, the number of beneficiaries in Alberta has fallen by 13,600, coinciding with increases in employment in health care and social assistance as well as in construction.

In May, the number of regular beneficiaries increased by 1,300 in Nova Scotia, 1,100 in British Columbia and 440 in Manitoba. There was little change elsewhere.

Sub-provincial and demographic overview

More large centres showing year-over-year declines in beneficiaries

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 May, 115 of the 143 large centres had fewer regular beneficiaries compared with May 2009 (see map). This was a marked difference from June 2009 when the number of beneficiaries was at its peak and only two large centres posted year-over-year declines. Large centres are those with a population of 10,000 or more.

In Ontario, most large centres posted a decrease in the number of regular EI beneficiaries between May 2009 and May 2010. The most notable declines were in Windsor, Leamington, Woodstock, Guelph and Stratford. In Windsor, the number of beneficiaries declined by more than half, falling by 9,600 to 6,100. In Hamilton, it declined by 3,400 to 9,300, and in Kitchener, by 3,400 to 7,400. In Toronto, the number fell by 14,200 to 83,100, the third consecutive year-over-year decline. Greater Sudbury posted the largest increase, up 970 to 4,400.

In Quebec, there were year-over-year declines in almost all large centres from May 2009 to May 2010. The largest percentage declines occurred in Sept-Îles, Amos, Val-d'Or and Saint-Georges. Like Toronto, Montréal posted a third consecutive year-over-year decline, falling by 1,400 to 63,400. Saguenay and Sherbrooke also posted significant declines.

In Alberta, the number of EI beneficiaries in 11 of the 12 large centers declined from May 2009 to May 2010, Cold Lake being the exception. In Calgary, the number of people receiving regular benefits decreased by 2,500 to 15,900; in Edmonton, it declined by 2,000 to 14,400.

Between May 2009 and May 2010, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits edged down in most large centres of Atlantic Canada. The fastest year-over-year declines occurred in Labrador City, Bathurst, New Glasgow and Grand Falls–Windsor.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of beneficiaries declined in St. John's by 150 to 4,800. In Nova Scotia, the number of beneficiaries decreased in Halifax by 290 to 5,600. In contrast, the number of beneficiaries rose by 400 to 2,600 in Saint John, the only large centre in New Brunswick to experience an increase.

Third consecutive year-over-year decline in the number of male EI beneficiaries

Between May 2009 and May 2010, the number of male EI regular beneficiaries decreased 17.0% to 404,800. This was the third consecutive year-over-year decline since the beginning of the labour market downturn in October 2008. The declines were most pronounced among young men under 25 years of age (-25.9%) and men aged 25 to 54 (-19.0%).

Over this year-long period, the number of female beneficiaires was little changed at 238,900. Increases occurred among women aged 55 and over (+17.5%), offsetting declines among young women (-5.8%) and those aged 25 to 54 (-2.8%).

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 June will be released on August 18.

A set of maps, Employment Insurance Statistics Maps, May 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 Dominique Pérusse (613-951-4064), Labour Statistics Division.

Table 1

Employment Insurance: Statistics by province and territory
  April 2010p May 2010p April to May 2010 May 2009 to May 2010 April to May 2010 May 2009 to May 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
  number change in number % change
Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits            
Canada 671,550 680,140 8,590 -111,320 1.3 -14.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 37,740 37,620 -120 -4,930 -0.3 -11.6
Prince Edward Island 8,590 8,820 230 -90 2.7 -1.0
Nova Scotia 31,460 32,730 1,270 -830 4.0 -2.5
New Brunswick 33,470 33,850 380 -2,050 1.1 -5.7
Quebec 186,480 190,670 4,190 -18,050 2.2 -8.6
Ontario 212,790 220,940 8,150 -56,980 3.8 -20.5
Manitoba 15,670 16,110 440 50 2.8 0.3
Saskatchewan 12,740 12,790 50 -1,330 0.4 -9.4
Alberta 50,240 49,280 -960 -7,350 -1.9 -13.0
British Columbia 81,190 82,330 1,140 -6,100 1.4 -6.9
Yukon 1,010 1,020 10 -100 1.0 -8.9
Northwest Territories 920 890 -30 -60 -3.3 -6.3
Nunavut 510 520 10 10 2.0 2.0
Initial and renewal claims received            
Canada 229,840 231,930 2,090 -95,770 0.9 -29.2
Newfoundland and Labrador 8,950 9,260 310 -810 3.5 -8.0
Prince Edward Island 2,330 2,440 110 -400 4.7 -14.1
Nova Scotia 9,350 9,580 230 -1,500 2.5 -13.5
New Brunswick 9,890 10,360 470 -190 4.8 -1.8
Quebec 66,490 67,270 780 -17,380 1.2 -20.5
Ontario 70,200 69,960 -240 -43,410 -0.3 -38.3
Manitoba 7,640 7,810 170 -1,890 2.2 -19.5
Saskatchewan 5,680 5,660 -20 -1,540 -0.4 -21.4
Alberta 17,870 18,420 550 -9,990 3.1 -35.2
British Columbia 28,600 27,820 -780 -9,900 -2.7 -26.2
Yukon 320 310 -10 -70 -3.1 -18.4
Northwest Territories 320 300 -20 -40 -6.3 -11.8
Nunavut 200 190 -10 10 -5.0 5.6
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.

Table 2

Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by age group, sex, province and territory
  May 2009 May 2010p May 2009 to May 2010 May 2009 to May 2010
  Unadjusted for seasonality
  number change in number % change
Canada        
Both sexes 725,930 643,710 -82,220 -11.3
Under 25 years 82,560 65,180 -17,380 -21.1
25 to 54 years 520,510 450,570 -69,940 -13.4
55 years and over 122,870 127,960 5,090 4.1
Men 487,900 404,840 -83,060 -17.0
Under 25 years 62,570 46,350 -16,220 -25.9
25 to 54 years 342,380 277,410 -64,970 -19.0
55 years and over 82,950 81,080 -1,870 -2.3
Women 238,030 238,860 830 0.3
Under 25 years 19,990 18,830 -1,160 -5.8
25 to 54 years 178,130 173,150 -4,980 -2.8
55 years and over 39,910 46,880 6,970 17.5
Newfoundland and Labrador        
Both sexes 42,170 37,680 -4,490 -10.6
Under 25 years 4,520 3,890 -630 -13.9
25 to 54 years 28,550 24,780 -3,770 -13.2
55 years and over 9,100 9,020 -80 -0.9
Men 26,190 22,920 -3,270 -12.5
Women 15,980 14,760 -1,220 -7.6
Prince Edward Island        
Both sexes 6,900 7,090 190 2.8
Under 25 years 870 810 -60 -6.9
25 to 54 years 4,500 4,560 60 1.3
55 years and over 1,530 1,730 200 13.1
Men 4,240 4,080 -160 -3.8
Women 2,670 3,010 340 12.7
Nova Scotia        
Both sexes 29,750 29,270 -480 -1.6
Under 25 years 3,680 3,390 -290 -7.9
25 to 54 years 20,550 19,760 -790 -3.8
55 years and over 5,530 6,110 580 10.5
Men 19,290 17,790 -1,500 -7.8
Women 10,460 11,470 1,010 9.7
New Brunswick        
Both sexes 33,150 31,660 -1,490 -4.5
Under 25 years 3,430 3,080 -350 -10.2
25 to 54 years 22,710 21,240 -1,470 -6.5
55 years and over 7,010 7,340 330 4.7
Men 22,980 20,640 -2,340 -10.2
Women 10,170 11,020 850 8.4
Quebec        
Both sexes 185,930 171,110 -14,820 -8.0
Under 25 years 21,550 17,910 -3,640 -16.9
25 to 54 years 129,400 116,990 -12,410 -9.6
55 years and over 34,980 36,210 1,230 3.5
Men 123,840 110,490 -13,350 -10.8
Women 62,090 60,620 -1,470 -2.4
Ontario        
Both sexes 253,470 205,370 -48,100 -19.0
Under 25 years 25,030 18,270 -6,760 -27.0
25 to 54 years 190,260 149,570 -40,690 -21.4
55 years and over 38,170 37,530 -640 -1.7
Men 168,710 125,110 -43,600 -25.8
Women 84,760 80,260 -4,500 -5.3
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.

Table 3

Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by age group, sex, province and territory
  May 2009 May 2010p May 2009 to May 2010 May 2009 to May 2010
  Unadjusted for seasonality
  number change in number % change
Manitoba        
Both sexes 13,640 14,140 500 3.7
Under 25 years 1,810 1,700 -110 -6.1
25 to 54 years 9,770 9,890 120 1.2
55 years and over 2,060 2,550 490 23.8
Men 9,810 9,750 -60 -0.6
Women 3,830 4,390 560 14.6
Saskatchewan        
Both sexes 11,720 11,070 -650 -5.5
Under 25 years 1,780 1,380 -400 -22.5
25 to 54 years 8,080 7,580 -500 -6.2
55 years and over 1,860 2,110 250 13.4
Men 8,770 7,580 -1,190 -13.6
Women 2,950 3,500 550 18.6
Alberta        
Both sexes 58,640 50,610 -8,030 -13.7
Under 25 years 8,190 5,390 -2,800 -34.2
25 to 54 years 42,630 36,390 -6,240 -14.6
55 years and over 7,820 8,830 1,010 12.9
Men 42,050 32,590 -9,460 -22.5
Women 16,590 18,020 1,430 8.6
British Columbia        
Both sexes 87,820 83,060 -4,760 -5.4
Under 25 years 11,400 9,100 -2,300 -20.2
25 to 54 years 62,020 57,830 -4,190 -6.8
55 years and over 14,410 16,130 1,720 11.9
Men 60,200 52,130 -8,070 -13.4
Women 27,620 30,920 3,300 11.9
Yukon        
Both sexes 1,030 960 -70 -6.8
Under 25 years 110 100 -10 -9.1
25 to 54 years 710 670 -40 -5.6
55 years and over 210 190 -20 -9.5
Men 690 640 -50 -7.2
Women 340 330 -10 -2.9
Northwest Territories        
Both sexes 1,000 950 -50 -5.0
Under 25 years 110 110 0 0.0
25 to 54 years 760 700 -60 -7.9
55 years and over 130 140 10 7.7
Men 670 610 -60 -9.0
Women 330 340 10 3.0
Nunavut        
Both sexes 540 550 10 1.9
Under 25 years 60 50 -10 -16.7
25 to 54 years 430 450 20 4.7
55 years and over 50 50 0 0.0
Men 400 420 20 5.0
Women 140 130 -10 -7.1
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.

Table 4

Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by census metropolitan areas
  May 2009 May 2010p May 2009 to May 2010 May 2009 to May 2010
  Unadjusted for seasonality
  number change in number % change
Newfoundland and Labrador        
St. John's 4,980 4,830 -150 -3.0
Nova Scotia        
Halifax 5,900 5,610 -290 -4.9
New Brunswick        
Saint John 2,160 2,560 400 18.5
Quebec        
Saguenay 4,800 3,970 -830 -17.3
Québec 9,920 9,860 -60 -0.6
Sherbrooke 3,300 2,650 -650 -19.7
Trois-Rivières 3,460 3,260 -200 -5.8
Montréal 64,810 63,410 -1,400 -2.2
Ottawa–Gatineau, Gatineau part 3,140 3,220 80 2.5
Ontario        
Ottawa–Gatineau, Ottawa part 7,010 7,310 300 4.3
Kingston 1,580 1,630 50 3.2
Oshawa 6,630 5,780 -850 -12.8
Toronto 97,340 83,130 -14,210 -14.6
Hamilton 12,700 9,310 -3,390 -26.7
St. Catharines–Niagara 8,990 8,130 -860 -9.6
Kitchener 10,760 7,370 -3,390 -31.5
London 9,170 7,040 -2,130 -23.2
Windsor 15,650 6,060 -9,590 -61.3
Greater Sudbury 3,460 4,430 970 28.0
Thunder Bay 2,550 2,160 -390 -15.3
Manitoba        
Winnipeg 6,570 7,400 830 12.6
Saskatchewan        
Regina 1,250 1,380 130 10.4
Saskatoon 1,900 2,230 330 17.4
Alberta        
Calgary 18,420 15,900 -2,520 -13.7
Edmonton 16,380 14,410 -1,970 -12.0
British Columbia        
Abbotsford–Mission 3,650 3,860 210 5.8
Vancouver 34,790 35,040 250 0.7
Victoria 3,850 3,700 -150 -3.9
preliminary
Note(s):
The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.