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February 18, 2021EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, DECEMBER 2020 From March to September, Statistics Canada suspended publication of employment insurance (EI) statistics. Canadians were eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during this period. New data for the period from March to September shows how an initial rise in EI claims at the start of the pandemic was reversed as new EI applicants were directed to CERB instead. After September 27, 2020 there was a temporary expansion of EI and CERB recipients were transitioned back to EI.
The new information for December was collected in reference to the period December 6-12. Several provinces tightened public health measures to various degrees between November and December, including Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia (Halifax area), Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Restrictions were maintained in Quebec and Manitoba
In December 2020, there were 46,580 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular EI (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular EI usage increased by 2,110 (+4.7%) from November to December.
About 1.33 million Canadians received regular EI benefits in December (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 25,840 (+2.0%) from November.
Comparing December 2020 with the same month in 2019, EI usage has almost tripled across Canada (+194.0%). In Nova Scotia, EI usage is up 80.6% over this period. The largest percentage increases in EI usage were in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. The lowest increases in EI usage were reported in Atlantic Canada.
By age and sex cohort, the year over year percentage increase (Dec 2020 vs Dec 2019, seasonally adjusted) in EI usage was notably higher among women. Prior to the pandemic, women had lower EI usage than did men. This pattern holds across all age cohorts. The industries whose employment was most affected by public health restrictions and other pandemic precautions had a disproportionate share of female employment.
Among counties (comparing unadjusted results for Dec 2020 with Dec 2019), EI usage increased the most in Halifax. EI usage also more than doubled in Kings and Yarmouth counties. Increases in EI usage were smaller in Guysborough, Antigonish and all four counties on Cape Breton.
Note: Statistics Canada has not updated EI usage by occupation.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0011-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries (regular benefits) by province and territory, monthly, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months; Table 14-10-0323-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries by census division, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality
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