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July 23, 2026EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, MAY 2026 Monthly (May vs April 2026, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In May 2026, there were 21,340 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 610 (+2.9%) from revised April results.
There were 543,690 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in May 2026 (seasonally adjusted), a decrease of 270 (-0.05%) from the revised April 2026 value.
Employment insurance usage was up in six provinces in May, with the fastest growth reported in Nova Scotia. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the sharpest decrease in employment insurance usage compared to April.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 3.7% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in May 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 (May 2026 vs May 2025)
Compared to May 2025, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage fell 6.4% (-1,470), the fastest among provinces. National employment insurance usage increased 3.0% (+15,690) compared to one year ago. Six provinces reported higher employment insurance usage 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 May 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, Declines were fastest among females aged 15 to 24 - the males had larger declines in volume terms.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for May 2026 to May 2025, 12 of 18 Nova Scotia's counties reported lower employment insurance usage. The steepest decline (in percentage terms) was in Antigonish, while the fastest increase was in Annapolis.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, general trades, helpers/labourers/other transport operators and manufacturing/utilities in May 2026. The largest increase year-over-year was among unclassified occupations, while the largest decline was for manufacturing/utilities occupations.
Year-to-date (January-May 2026 vs January-May 2025)
In the first five months of 2026, Nova Scotia's regular employment insurance beneficiaries was down 3.1%, the fastest decline among provinces. Nationally, employment insurance usage was up 7.8% 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. The steepest decline in employment insurance usage was among youth.
In January-May 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 manufacturing/utilities occupations in January-May 2026.
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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