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February 19, 2026EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, DECEMBER AND ANNUAL 2025 Monthly (December 2025 vs November 2025, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In December 2025, there were 23,060 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 40 (+0.2%) from revised November results to December.
There were 569,110 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in December 2025 (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 2,470 (+0.4%) from the revised November 2025 value.
Five provinces reported higher employment insurance usage in December, led by Ontario. Prince Edward Island and Manitoba reported the fastest decline in employment insurance usage compared to November.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.1% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in December 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 (December 2025 vs December 2024)
Compared to December 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage rose 4.5% (+1,000). National employment insurance usage increased 16.7% (+81,470) compared to December 2024. All provinces reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest growth reported in Alberta and British Columbia, and the slowest in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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 December 2025. Compared to one year ago, employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force was higher for all age and sex cohorts with the exception of males over the age of 55.
The year-over-year increase in employment insurance usage was fastest (in percentage terms) for younger males and older females. Only females aged 15-24 reported lower employment insurance usage compared to December 2024.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for December 2025 against December 2024, the fastest growth in employment insurance usage (in percentage terms) was in Lunenburg county, followed by Halifax and Digby. The fastest decline was in Cape Breton county.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, manufacturing/utilities, general trades, helpers/labourers/other transport operators, 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 administrative, financial support and supply chain logistics.
Annual (2025 vs 2024)
Compared to 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage increased 2.5%. National employment insurance usage increased 11.9% in 2025, with the fastest rise in Ontario. All provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reported higher annual employment insurance usage.
As a share of the labour force, employment insurance usage increased for core-aged and older females in 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 cohorts, with a small decline in employment insurance usage for older workers, and a small increase for younger workers.
Annual employment insurance usage was higher for all age and sex cohorts, with the exception of younger females which saw the only decline in the number of workers using employment insurance.
Comparing 2025 with 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.
Annual employment insurance usage increased across 22 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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