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November 20, 2025EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, SEPTEMBER 2025 Monthly (September 2025 vs August 2025, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In September 2025, there were 22,440 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage decreased by 50 (-0.2%) from revised August results to September.
There were 543,740 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in September 2025 (seasonally adjusted), a decrease of 6,220 (-1.1%) from the revised August 2025 value.
Eight provinces reported lower employment insurance usage in September, led by Manitoba and Québec. Compared to August 2025, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia were the only provinces to report higher employment insurance usage.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.0% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in September 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 and Ontario had the lowest.
Year-over-year (September 2025 vs September 2024)
Compared to September 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage rose 1.6% (+350). National employment insurance usage increased 11.7% (+56,900) compared to September 2024. Nine provinces reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest rise in British Columbia. Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province to report lower employment insurance usage over September 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 September 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. 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 was concentrated among female core-aged and older workers, with a smaller increase for males aged 15-24. These increases were only partially offset by declines among core-aged and older male workers and females aged 15-24.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for September 2025 against September 2024, the fastest growth in employment insurance usage (in percentage terms) was in Lunenburg county, followed by Digby county. The fastest declines were in Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness, and Queens counties.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, manufacturing/utilities, general trades, and education/law/social services/community/government. The largest increase year-over-year was among education/law/community/government. The largest decline among occupations was for helpers/labourers/other transport operators.
Year-to-date (January-September 2025 vs January-September 2024)
Compared to the first nine months of 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage increased 1.9%. National employment insurance usage increased 10.1%, 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 nine 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 nine 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 helpers/labourers/other transport 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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