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June 19, 2025EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, APRIL 2025 Monthly (April 2025 vs March 2025, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In April 2025, there were 22,700 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 540 (+2.4%) from March to April.
There were 519,540 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in April 2025 (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 17,170 (+3.4%) from March 2025.
When compared to March 2025, seven provinces reported higher employment insurance usage, led by Québec. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the fastest decline.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.1% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in April 2025. Nationally, the share of beneficiaries was 2.3% of the labour force. Newfoundland and Labrador had the largest share of beneficiaries of the labour force, while British Columbia had the lowest.
Year-over-year (April 2025 vs April 2024)
Compared to April 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage rose 6.8% (+1,450). National employment insurance usage increased 12.7% compared to April 2024. All provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest rise in Ontario.
Use of employment insurance (as a share of the labour force) was lowest for youth (15-24) and highest for workers age 55 and over. Across all age cohorts, male use of employment insurance was higher as a share of the labour force than female use of employment insurance. Compared to one year ago, employment insurance usage increased for all age-sex cohorts.
The year-over-year increase in employment insurance usage reflected increases for all age-sex cohorts, with the exception of females aged 15-24 (unchanged). Males reported faster increases in employment insurance usage compared to females.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for April 2025 against April 2024, employment insurance usage declined the most in Queens, Guysborough, and Antigonish counties (in percentage terms). Employment insurance usage increased the most in Lunenburg, Digby, Shelburne, and Yarmouth counties.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, manufacturing/utilities, general trades, and helpers/labourers/other transport operators.
There were declines in year-over-year employment insurance usage among all sales/services occupations, as well as harvesting/landscaping/natural resources labourers, and manufacturing/utilities. Among occupations that reported higher employment insurance usage, the fastest increase was among unclassified occupations and art/culture/recreation/sport, followed by administrative/financial supervisors, natural resources/agriculture, and administrative/financial support/supply chain logistics.
Year-to-date (January-April 2025 vs January-April 2024)
Compared to the first four months of 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage increased 2.5%. National employment insurance usage increased 7.7% compared to January-April 2024. Seven provinces reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest increase in Ontario. Three provinces reported lower employment insurance usage, with the fastest decrease in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Year-to-date, employment insurance usage was higher due to increases among males aged 15 and over, as well as females aged 25 and over. Only females aged 15-24 reported lower employment insurance use compared to the same period one year ago.
In the first four months of 2025, employment insurance usage declined the most in Guysborough, Cape Breton, and Queens counties (in percentage terms). Employment insurance usage increased the most in Lunenburg, Digby, and Yarmouth counties in January-April 2025.
In January-April 2025, employment insurance usage declined the most in health occupations, technical occupations in natural/applied science, sales/service support and middle management occupations in engineering/architecture/science. The fastest increases were in unclassified occupations, and occupations in art/culture/recreation/sport.
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 14-10-0456-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries (regular benefits) by province, territory and occupation, monthly, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months
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