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March 26, 2015EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE JANUARY 2015 In January 2015, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Nova Scotians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits increased by 380 persons (1.5%) from the previous month to 26,260 and declined by 1,060 persons (-3.9%) over January 2014.
In January 2015, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Canadians receiving regular EI benefits increased by 670 persons (0.1%) from the previous month to 496,640 and declined by 14,210 persons (-2.8%) over January 2014.
The majority (64.2%) of regular EI recipients in Nova Scotia were in the 25 to 54 age group, 26.0% were in the 55 years and over age group, and 9.7% 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 80 persons; the 25-54 age group decreased by 970 persons, and the 55 and over group decreased by 10 individuals.
In January 2015, the number of Nova Scotians receiving regular EI benefits increased in 7 counties (Yarmouth, Digby, Hants, Colchester, Richmond, Cape Breton and Victoria) Counties compared to the same month a year ago. The largest decline in the number of EI recipients was recorded in Sheburne (-190 persons). Lunenburg county saw a decline of 150 persons receiving regular benefits.
In the two most populous counties, Halifax saw a month to month increase of 1,220 persons (27.7%) to 5,620 in January, and Cape Breton County saw a month to month increase of 760 persons (12.8%) to 6,720. On a year over year basis, Halifax saw decline (-110 persons) and Cape Breton saw increase (80 persons) as compared to January 2014.
The percentage of Employment Insurance (EI) use January 2015 (ratio of the total number of regular EI beneficiaries to the population aged 15 and over, as of July 1, 2014) 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 (26.2%), followed by Guysborough County (12.2%) and Inverness (10.4%). Half of the counties see less than 5% EI usage rates, with the lowest rate of EI use observed in Halifax County (1.6%). Generally, Southern and Cape Breton economic regions see higher EI usage rates.
While looking at the percentage of EI use in Canada at Census Division level, it ranges from 0.6% (Division No. 2, Saskatchewan) to 26.2% (Victoria, Nova Scotia). Among populated provinces, Alberta sees the lowest average EI usage rate (1.1%) across Census Divisions, followed by Saskatchewan (1.7%) and Manitoba (2%). Newfoundland and Labrador sees the highest average EI usage rate (12.5%), with EI usage rates ranging from 5.1 % to 23.9% across Census Divisions.
Statistics Canada CANSIM (free) 276-0022, 276-0035 (County level), and 276-0018.