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June 18, 2026EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, APRIL 2026 Monthly (April vs March 2026, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In April 2026, there were 20,770 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage decreased by 890 (-4.1%) from revised March results.
There were 544,440 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in April 2026 (seasonally adjusted), an decrease of 3,000 (-0.5%) from the revised March 2026 value.
Employment insurance usage was up in five provinces in April, with the fastest growth reported in Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador. Nova Scotia reported the sharpest decrease in employment insurance usage compared to March.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 3.7% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in April 2026. 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 (April 2026 vs April 2025)
Compared to April 2025, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage fell 8.6% (-1,950). National employment insurance usage increased 3.5% (+18,160) compared to one year ago. Eight provinces reported higher employment insurance usage compared to one year ago, with the fastest growth reported in Alberta. The steepest decline was reported in Nova Scotia.
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 April 2026. Compared to one year ago, employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force was down for all age-gender cohorts except females aged 55 and over.
The year-over-year declines in employment insurance usage were concentrated among females across all age cohorts except 55+, with a faster decline among females aged 15 to 24.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for April 2026 to April 2025, all of Nova Scotia's counties reported lower employment insurance usage, except Annapolis. The steepest decline (in percentage terms) was in Richmond.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, general trades, helpers/labourers/other transport operators and manufacturing/utilities. The largest increase year-over-year was among unclassified occupations, while the largest decline was for natural resources.
Year-to-date (January-April 2026 vs January-April 2025)
In the first four months of 2026, Nova Scotia's regular employment insurance beneficiaries was down 2.4%, the largest decline. Nationally, employment insurance usage was up 8.9% with increases in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. The fastest increase was reported in British Columbia.
As a share of the labour force, year-to-date employment insurance usage was down the most for males 55+.
Across age and gender cohorts, employment insurance was down for both males and females (except females 55+). The steepest decline in employment insurance usage was among youth.
In January-April 2026, the fastest increase in employment insurance was in Annapolis and the fastest decline was in Richmond.
By occupation, the largest increase was reported among occupations in education/law/social services/government, while the largest decline was reported among occupations in arts/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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