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December 18, 2014EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OCTOBER 2014 In October 2014, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Nova Scotians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits increased by 150 persons (0.6%) from the previous month to 25,150, and declined by 2,010 persons (-7.4%) over October 2013.
In October 2014, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Canadians receiving regular EI benefits fell by 4,370 persons (-0.9%) from the previous month to 491,370 and declined by 26,800 persons (-5.2%) over October 2013.
The majority (63.9%) of regular EI recipients in Nova Scotia were in the 25 to 54 age group, 26.1% 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 340 persons; the 25-54 age group decreased by 1,440 persons, and the 55 and over group decreased by 220 individuals.
In October 2014, the number of Nova Scotians receiving regular EI benefits declined in all counties except Shelburne (+60 recipients) and Digby (+10) compared to the same month a year ago. The largest decline in the number of EI recipients was recorded in Cape Breton (-580 persons).
On a year-to-date average basis, all counties except Halifax County (+0.3%) saw declines in the first ten months of 2014 compared to the first ten months of 2013. (Note: All county data are not seasonally adjusted.)
Looking closer at the largest counties (with the most recipients), Halifax had 3,710 EI recipients in October 2014, 3.6% (140 persons) fewer than a year earlier, and Cape Breton had 5,839 EI recipients in October 2014, 6.1% (60 persons) fewer than in October 2013. Note: county level data are not seasonally adjusted). Halifax county represented 17.5% of Nova Scotia recipients this month, and Cape Breton county accounted for 23.2% of recipients this month.
The percentage of Employment Insurance (EI) use October 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, Victoria County has the highest rate of EI use (15.6%), followed by Shelburne County (10.0%) and Guysborough (7.6%). There are 7 counties with EI usage rates ranging from 5% to 10%. 9 counties are reported less than 3% EI usage rate, the lowest rate of EI use is observed in Halifax County (1.1%). 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 0.3% (Division No. 4, Saskatchewan) to 15.6% (Victoria, Nova Scotia). Among populated provinces, Alberta sees the lowest average EI usage rate (0.7%) across Census Divisions, followed by Saskatchewan (0.9%) and Ontario (1%). Newfoundland and Labrador sees the highest average EI usage rate (8.1%), with EI usage rates ranging from 3.2 % to 14.9% across Census Divisions.
Statistics Canada CANSIM (free) 276-0022 and 276-0035 (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.