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January 22, 2026EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, NOVEMBER 2025 Monthly (November 2025 vs October 2025, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In November 2025, there were 23,050 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 160 (+0.7%) from revised October results to November.
There were 565,960 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in November 2025 (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 8,870 (+1.6%) from the revised October 2025 value.
Eight provinces reported higher employment insurance usage in November, led by Québec and Ontario. Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick reported lower employment insurance usage compared to October.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.1% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in November 2025. Nationally, the share of beneficiaries was 2.5% 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 (November 2025 vs November 2024)
Compared to November 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage rose 3.2% (+710). National employment insurance usage increased 16.1% (+78,450) compared to November 2024. All provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest growth reported in Alberta and British Columbia.
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 November 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 age 55 and over, while it was up for core-aged and older females.
The year-over-year increase in employment insurance usage was fastest among female core-aged and older workers, with smaller increases for males of all age cohorts. Only females aged 15-24 reported lower employment insurance usage compared to November 2024.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for November 2025 against November 2024, the fastest growth in employment insurance usage (in percentage terms) was in Lunenburg county, followed by Halifax and Colchester. The fastest decline was in Queens county.
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 technical trades/other transport operators.
Year-to-date (January-November 2025 vs January-November 2024)
Compared to the first eleven months of 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage increased 2.3%. National employment insurance usage increased 11.3%, 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 core-aged and older females in the first eleven months of 2025. There was a decline in employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force among females aged 15-24. Among males, employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force was largely stable across age and gender cohorts.
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 eleven 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 county, followed by Halifax and Digby counties.
Year-to-date employment insurance usage increased across 21 of 29 occupational categories with the largest increase among education/law/social services/community/government 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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