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October 23, 2025EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AUGUST 2025 Monthly (August 2025 vs July 2025, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In August 2025, there were 22,540 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 20 (+0.1%) from revised July results to August.
There were 551,670 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in August 2025 (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 450 (+0.1%) from the revised July 2025 value.
Seven provinces reported higher employment insurance usage in August, led by Alberta and Prince Edward Island. Compared to July 2025, three provinces reported lower employment insurance usage led by Québec.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.0% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in August 2025. Nationally, the share of beneficiaries was 2.4% 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 (August 2025 vs August 2024)
Compared to August 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage rose 0.6% (+140). National employment insurance usage increased 11.5% (+57,000) compared to August 2024. Nine provinces reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest rise in Alberta and the slowest in Nova Scotia. Newfoundland and Labrador was the only provinces to report lower employment insurance usage over August 2024.
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. Male use of employment insurance was higher as a share of the labour force than female use of employment insurance for all age cohorts in August 2025. Compared to one year ago, employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force was down for persons aged 15-24 and males aged 55 and over. Female employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force was down for youth and up for other age cohorts.
The year-over-year increase in employment insurance usage reflected higher usage for female core aged workers, partially offset by declines among females aged 15-24 and males in all age cohorts.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for August 2025 against August 2024, the fastest growth in employment insurance usage was in Lunenburg county, followed by Halifax. The fastest declines were in Victoria, Antigonish, and Inverness counties. Queens and Guysborough reported no change, year-over-year.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, education/law/social services/community/government, manufacturing/utilities, or general trades. The largest increases were among education/law/community/government. The largest decline among occupations was for helpers/labourers/other transport operators.
Year-to-date (January-August 2025 vs January-August 2024)
Compared to the first eight months of 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage increased 2.0%. National employment insurance usage increased 9.8%, year-to-date, with the fastest rise in Ontario. All provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reported higher employment insurance usage year-to-date.
As a share of the labour force, employment insurance usage increased for older workers, and males aged 15-24 in the first eight months of 2025. There was a slight decline in employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force among male core-aged workers and females aged 15-24.
Year-to-date employment insurance usage was higher for core-aged and older workers of both sexes, partially offset by lower usage among youth. Employment insurance use among those aged 15-24 fell faster for females.
Comparing the first eight months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, employment insurance usage declined in Queens, Pictou, Guysborough, and Antigonish counties along with all four counties on Cape Breton Island. Employment insurance usage increased the most (in percentage terms) in Lunenburg, Halifax, and Digby counties.
Year-to-date employment insurance usage increased across most occupational categories with the largest increase among art/culture/recreation/sport and the largest decline among sales/service support occupations.
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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