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:
May 18, 2023EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, MARCH 2023 
In March 2023, there were 22,130 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage declined by 490 (-2.2%) from February 2023 to March 2023.
There were 387,540 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in March 2023 (seasonally adjusted), a decrease of 2,350 (-0.6%) from February 2023.
All provinces except Ontario reported a decline in regular beneficiaries in March. The largest decline in percentage terms was reported in Prince Edward Island.
Comparing the first quarter of 2023 to the same period in 2022, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage was down by 29.5%. National employment insurance usage was down by 34.0% with declines in all provinces. The largest decline in employment insurance usage was reported in Quebec and the smallest in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.2% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in March 2023. Nationally, the share of beneficiaries was 1.8% of the labour force.
Use of employment insurance (as a share of the labour force) was lower for youth aged 15-24 and higher for workers aged 55 and older. Across all age cohorts, male use of employment insurance was higher as a share of the labour force than female use of employment insurance.
Use of employment insurance was down for all age cohorts from March 2022 to March 2023. The largest declines were among youth, particularly among females.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for March 2023 against March 2022, use of employment insurance was down for all counties in Nova Scotia.
In percentage terms, the largest declines in employment insurance use from March 2022 to March 2023 were reported in Pictou County (-36.4%) and in Halifax County (-35.9%). Inverness County reported the smallest decline (-12.8%).
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; Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months
<--- Return to Archive
