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May 22, 2026EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, MARCH 2026 Monthly (March vs February 2026, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In March 2026, there were 21,950 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 100 (+0.5%) from revised February results.
There were 548,000 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in March 2026 (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 2,330 (+0.4%) from the revised February 2026 value.
Employment insurance usage was up in five provinces in March, with the fastest growth reported in British Columbia. Saskatchewan reported the fastest decrease in employment insurance usage compared to February.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 3.9% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in March 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 (March 2026 vs March 2025)
Compared to March 2025, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage fell 1.0% (-220). National employment insurance usage increased 8.7% (+43,890) compared to one year ago. Six provinces reported higher employment insurance usage compared to one year ago, with the fastest growth reported in British Columbia. The fastest decline was reported in Newfoundland and Labrador, followed by 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 March 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 males across age cohorts, with a faster decline among females aged 15 to 24.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for March 2026 to March 2025, ten of Nova Scotia's eighteen counties reported lower employment insurance usage. The fastest declines (in percentage terms) were in Guysborough and the four counties on Cape Breton Island. The fastest increase was in Annapolis county.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, general trades, education/law/social services/community/government and manufacturing/utilities. The largest increase year-over-year was among education/law/community/government, while the largest decline was for art/culture/recreation/sport.
Year-to-date (January-March 2026 vs January-March 2025)
In the first three months of 2026, Nova Scotia's regular employment insurance beneficiaries was up 0.3%. Nationally, employment insurance usage was up 10.6% with increases in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador. The fastest increases were reported in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
As a share of the labour force, year-to-date employment insurance usage was down the most for males age 55 and over.
Across age and gender cohorts, employment insurance was up for both males and females, with declines among youth offsetting increases for those age 25-54 and 55 and over. Among those age 55 and over, higher female employment insurance usage offset declines among males.
In January-March 2026, the fastest increases in employment insurance were in Digby, Colchester, Annapolis and Halifax counties. The fastest declines were in Guysborough, Antigonish, and the four counties on Cape Breton Island.
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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