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July 24, 2014EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE MAY 2014 In May 2014, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Nova Scotians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits decreased by 1,130 persons (-4.2%) from the previous month to 25,770, and declined by 2,230 persons (-8.0%) over May 2013.
In May 2014, the number (seasonally adjusted) of Canadians receiving regular EI benefits fell by 12,070 persons (-2.3%) from the previous month to 504,080 and declined by 12,170 persons (-2.4%) over May 2013.
Majority (64.2%) of regular EI recipients in Nova Scotia in May 2014 were in the 25 to 54 age group, 26.3 % were in the 55 years and over age group, and 9.5% were in the 15 to 24 age group. In May 2014, majority (64.0%) of regular EI beneficiaries in Nova Scotia were males.
On a year-over-year basis, there were fewer beneficiaries in each of the three age groups in May 2014. The 15 to 24 age group decreased by 110 persons, 25-54 age group decreased by 800 persons, and 55 and over group decreased by 210 individuals in May 2014 over May 2013.
In May 2014, the number of Nova Scotians receiving regular EI benefits declined in all counties compared to the same time period last year. The largest declines in the number of EI recipients were recorded in Cape Breton (-450 persons), Yarmouth (-380), Shelburne (-180 persons), Kings (-170 persons), Cumberland (-170 persons), Inverness (-130 people) and Richmond (-130 persons).
On a year-to-date average basis, all counties saw declines in the first four months of 2014 compared to the first four months of 2013.
Looking closer at the largest counties (with the most recipients), Halifax had 4,530 EI recipients in May 2014, 0.2 % (10 persons) less than a year earlier, and Cape Breton had 4,660 EI recipients in May 2014, 8.8 % (450 person) less than in May 2013. Note: county level data are not seasonally adjusted). Halifax county represented 20.7% of Nova Scotia recipients this month, and Cape Breton county accounted for 21.3 % of recipients this month.
The percentage of Employment Insurance (EI) use May 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 (13.7%), while Halifax County has the lowest rate (1.3%). Generally, counties in Cape Breton area have higher incidence of EI use as compared to the rest of the province, especially Halifax and its surrounding counties.
While looking at the percentage of EI use in Canada at Census Division level, it ranges from 0.06% (Stikine, British Columbia) to 16.8% (Northern Rockies, British Columbia). From an overall point of view, populated urban areas tend to have lower rate of EI use as compared to rural areas.
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.