In November, 482,000 (-0.9%; -4,200) Canadians received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, little changed from October and down from the recent 495,000 peak recorded in August (-13,000), according to a Statistics Canada report.
On a year-over-year basis, the number of regular EI beneficiaries was up by 15,000 (+3.2%) in November. Data from the Labour Force Survey indicate that compared with November 2023, the unemployment rate was up 1.0 percentage points and the number of unemployed people who had been laid off increased to 556,000 (+16.8%; +80,000) (not seasonally adjusted), explained the federal agency.
The number of regular Employment Insurance recipients down for youth and core-aged men
“In November, the number of EI recipients receiving regular benefits fell among youth aged 15 to 24 (-2.3%; -1,100), largely among young men, and fell slightly among core-aged (25 to 54 years) men (-1.0%; -2,000). It was little changed for the other major demographic groups,” said StatsCan.
“Compared with a year earlier, more men and women aged 55 and older (+6.3%; +7,700), core-aged women (+4.2%; +4,600) and young men (+3.3%; +1,000) received regular EI benefits in November.”
Photo by Anna Nekrashevich
Fewer regular Employment Insurance recipients in six provinces in November, led by Quebec and Alberta
In November, the number of regular EI recipients decreased in Quebec (-3,500; -3.1%), Alberta (-1,200; -2.1%), Saskatchewan (-600; -4.3%), Manitoba (-400; -2.1%), Newfoundland and Labrador (-300; -1.1%) and Prince Edward Island (-200; -2.1%), said the report.
The decline in Quebec was especially among core-aged (-2,100; -3.1%) recipients. Despite the decrease in November, there were 2,200 (+2.1%) more recipients receiving regular EI benefits in the province compared with 12 months earlier, it said.
“In Alberta, the decline in November was mainly among men (-1,000; -2.9%). Compared with November 2023, the number of recipients in Alberta receiving regular EI benefits was up slightly (+700; +1.3%).
“Ontario (+1.3%; +2,000) was the lone province with more recipients receiving regular EI benefits in November. On a year-over-year basis, the number of people receiving regular benefits in Ontario was up by 11.0% (+16,000), the largest increase among all provinces.”
The number of regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries up in several major occupational groups
In November, the largest year-over-year increase in the number of regular EI recipients was recorded among those who last worked in business, finance and administration occupations (+4,400; +7.9%), followed by sales and service occupations (+3,700; +4.9%), added Statistics Canada.
“Over the same period, there were also increases in the number of regular EI recipients who last worked in manufacturing and utilities (+3,600; +10.1%), and in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (+3,400; +2.1%)—both mostly in Ontario. There were also notable increases in natural and applied sciences and related occupations (+3,200; +10.2%), and occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (+1,200; +2.5%),” it said.
“On the other hand, year-over-year declines were recorded in November among regular EI recipients who last worked in art, culture, recreation and sport (-3,500; -21.2%) and in natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations (-1,400; -4.5%).”
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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