The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
October 21, 2021EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AUGUST 2021 From March to September, Statistics Canada suspended publication of employment insurance (EI) statistics. Canadians were eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during this period. New data for the period from March to September shows how an initial rise in EI claims at the start of the pandemic was reversed as new EI applicants were directed to CERB instead. After September 27, 2020 there was a temporary expansion of EI and CERB recipients were transitioned back to EI. Temporary changes were introduced to the EI program, including a reduction in the number of insurable hours required for eligibility.
The new information for August 2021 reflects the period of August 15 to 21. At this time, most remaining public health measures had been lifted across the country. Indoor locations, including restaurants, recreation facilities, personal care services, retail stores, and entertainment venues were generally permitted to be open with varying capacity restrictions. Fully vaccinated non-essential travellers from the United States were allowed to enter Canada without quarantine on August 9 for the first time since March 2020.
In August, there were 62,810 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular EI (seasonally adjusted) benefits. Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular EI usage declined by 2,430 (-3.7%) from July to August 2021.
About 1.47 million Canadians received regular EI benefits in August (seasonally adjusted), a decrease of 65,490 (-4.3%) from July. Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba reported the largest percentage declines in beneficiaries. EI recipients were lower in six provinces and went up in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.
When compared to February 2020, EI usage has increased 229.0% across Canada as of August 2021. In Nova Scotia, EI usage was up 146.4% compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark. The largest percentage increases in EI usage were in Ontario, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. The lowest increases in EI usage were reported in Atlantic Canada.
By age and sex cohort, the increase in EI usage has been notably higher among women since the onset of the pandemic (Aug 2021 vs Feb 2020, seasonally adjusted). Prior to the pandemic, women had lower EI usage compared to men. Women now represent a larger share of EI recipients. The industries whose employment was most affected by public health restrictions and other pandemic precautions had a disproportionate share of female employment. In late September 2020, temporary changes to the EI program, including a reduction in the number of insured hours required to qualify, resulted in an increased number of women aged 15-24 and persons working in retail trade who received benefits.
Among counties (comparing unadjusted results for August 2021 with August 2019), EI usage increased the most in Halifax, Lunenburg and Cumberland counties. Increases in EI usage were lowest in Inverness and Guysborough.
Note: Statistics Canada has not updated EI usage by occupation.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0011-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries (regular benefits) by province and territory, monthly, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0323-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries by census division, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality
<--- Return to Archive
