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June 17, 2021EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, APRIL 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. Temporary changes were introduced to the EI program, including a reduction in the number of insurable hours required for eligibility.
The new information for April was collected in reference to the period April 11-17. Public health measures tightened in several provinces in late March and early April. On April 8th, Ontario implemented a province-wide stay-at-home order to curb third-wave spread of COVID-19. British Columbia entered circuit breaker restrictions on March 30th. Stricter public health restrictions were also reinstated in many parts of Quebec. These measures closed and/or limited business activity.
In April, there were 51,690 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular EI (seasonally adjusted) benefits. Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular EI usage increased by 3,390 (+7.0%) from March to April.
About 1.61 million Canadians received regular EI benefits in April (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 143,790 (+9.8%) from March.
When compared to April 2020, EI usage has increased 139.1% across Canada. In Nova Scotia, EI usage was up 70.3% over the same period. The largest percentage increases in EI usage were in Ontario, followed by British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. The lowest increases in EI usage were reported in Atlantic Canada.
By age and sex cohort, the increase in EI usage has been notably higher among women since the onset of the pandemic (Apr 2021 vs Feb 2020, seasonally adjusted). 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 Apr 2021 with Apr 2020), EI usage increased the most in Halifax and Kings counties. Increases in EI usage were lowest in Inverness and Victoria.
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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