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July 22, 2021EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, MAY 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 May 2021 was collected in reference to the period May 9-15. Public health measures tightened in several provinces ahead of the reference week. Nova Scotia entered province-wide shutdown on April 28, and further tightened measures at the border on May 10. Ontario's province-wide stay-at-home order remained in effect from April 8th. Both Alberta and Manitoba introduced measures that closed personal care services, recreational facilities, and in-person dining, and limited retail capacity. Meanwhile, New Brunswick and Quebec eased public health restrictions in late April and early May.
In May, there were 75,960 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular EI (seasonally adjusted) benefits. Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular EI usage increased by 24,270 (+47.0%) from April to May.
About 1.69 million Canadians received regular EI benefits in May (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 82,850 (+5.2%) from April. Nova Scotia, Alberta and British Columbia reported the largest increases in beneficiaries, while Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario registered declines from the previous month.
When compared to February 2020, EI usage has increased 278.2% across Canada as of May 2021. In Nova Scotia, EI usage was up 198.2% compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark. The largest percentage increases in EI usage were in Ontario, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. The lowest increases in EI usage were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
By age and sex cohort, the increase in EI usage has been notably higher among women since the onset of the pandemic (May 2021 vs Feb 2020, seasonally adjusted). Prior to the pandemic, women had lower EI usage compared to men. The industries whose employment was most affected by public health restrictions and other pandemic precautions had a disproportionate share of female employment. In late September 2020, temporary changes to the EI program, including a reduction in the number of insured hours required to qualify, resulted in an increased number of women aged 15-24 and persons working in retail trade who received benefits.
Among counties (comparing unadjusted results for May 2021 with May 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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