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May 20, 2021EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, MARCH 2021 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 March was collected in reference to the period March 14-20. Public health measures were eased in most provinces as of the March reference period. Ontario lifted stay-at-home orders on March 8 although personal care services, recreation and fitness facilities, and in-person dining remained closed in some areas. Quebec also eased measures around restaurants, and recreation and entertainment facilities while Montreal and surrounding regions continued to operate under the highest level of restrictions. Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba eased some public health measures during this period.
In March, there were 48,320 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular EI (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular EI usage increased by 2,650 (+5.8%) from February to March.
About 1.46 million Canadians received regular EI benefits in March (seasonally adjusted), a decline of 73,670 (-4.8%) from February.
When compared to March 2020, EI usage has increased 179.7% across Canada. In Nova Scotia, EI usage was up 72.8% over the same period. The largest percentage increases in EI usage were in Ontario, followed by British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta. The lowest increases in EI usage were reported in Atlantic Canada.
By age and sex cohort, the year over year percentage increase (Mar 2021 vs Mar 2020, seasonally adjusted) in EI usage was notably higher among women. Prior to the pandemic, women had lower EI usage compared to 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 Mar 2021 with Mar 2020), EI usage increased the most in Halifax, Kings and Pictou counties. Increases in EI usage were lowest in Inverness, Victoria, and Richmond.
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 14-10-0323-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries by census division, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality
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