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October 23, 2014EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AUGUST 2014 In August 2014, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Nova Scotians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits decreased by 200 persons (-0.8%) from the previous month to 25,070, and declined by 2,140 persons (-7.9%) over August 2013.
In August 2014, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Canadians receiving regular EI benefits fell by 680 persons (-0.1%) from the previous month to 498,140 and declined by 18,760 persons (-3.6%) over August 2013.
The majority (64.1%) of regular EI recipients in Nova Scotia in August 2014 were in the 25 to 54 age group, 25.9% were in the 55 years and over age group, and 10.0% were in the 15 to 24 age group.
On a year-over-year basis. the number of beneficiaries in the 15 to 24 age group decreased by 360 persons; the 25-54 age group decreased by 1,580 persons, and the 55 and over group decreased by 200 individuals.
In August 2014, the number of Nova Scotians receiving regular EI benefits declined in all counties except Digby (+20) and Halifax (+130) compared to the same month a year ago. The largest decline in the number of EI recipients was recorded in Yarmouth (-450 persons).
On a year-to-date average basis, all counties saw declines in the first eight months of 2014 compared to the first eight months of 2013.
Looking closer at the largest counties (with the most recipients), Halifax had 5,210 EI recipients in August 2014, 2.6% (130 persons) more than a year earlier, and Cape Breton had 5,440 EI recipients in August 2014, 11.0% (670 person) less than in August 2013. Note: county level data are not seasonally adjusted). Halifax county represented 21.4% of Nova Scotia recipients this month, and Cape Breton county accounted for 22.3% of recipients this month.
The percentage of Employment Insurance (EI) use August 2014 (ratio of the total number of regular EI beneficiaries to the population aged 15 and over, as of July 1, 2013) is mapped below by Census Division for Nova Scotia and Canada. Click on the images to enlarge the map.
In Nova Scotia, for about half of the counties, the EI usage rate is higher than 5%. Victoria County has the highest rate of EI use (11%), followed by Shelburne County (10.1%) and Guysborough County (6.7%). The lowest rate of EI use is observed in Halifax County (1.5%). Generally, counties in central and northern regions see lower EI usage rate as compared to counties in eastern and western regions.
While looking at the percentage of EI use in Canada at Census Division level, it ranges from 0.04% (Stikine, British Columbia) to 20.5% (Northern Rockies, British Columbia). Among populated provinces, Alberta sees the lowest average EI usage rate (0.9%) across Census Divisions, followed by Saskatchewan (1.5%) and Ontario (1.7%). Newfoundland and Labrador sees the highest average EI usage rate (7.7%), with EI usage rates ranging from 3.6% to 12.8% across Census Divisions.
Statistics Canada CANSIM (free) 276-0022 and 276-0032 (County level)
For more information, see the updated Employment Insurance section of the Economics and Statistics Division's "Labour Market Monthly" publication, by clicking
here.