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August 19, 2021EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, JUNE 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 June 2021 was collected in reference to the period June 13-19. Public health measures eased in several provinces ahead of the reference week. Most indoor and outdoor dining, recreation and cultural activities, retail shopping, and personal care services had resumed in eight provinces with varying degrees of capacity constraints. Ontario's province-wide stay-at-home order lifted on June 2nd and outdoor dining and some non-essential in-person shopping resumed on June 11. Meanwhile, Ontario’s indoor dining and gyms, as well as personal care services remained closed during the reference week. Manitoba remained under tight public health restrictions, including the closure of restaurants and bars, personal care services, and recreation and cultural facilities. Nova Scotia moved to Phase 2 of reopening on June 16th.
In June, there were 76,490 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular EI (seasonally adjusted) benefits. Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular EI usage increased by 530 (+0.7%) from May to June 2021.
About 1.65 million Canadians received regular EI benefits in June (seasonally adjusted), a decrease of 33,990 (-2.0%) from May. Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick reported the largest percentage increases in beneficiaries, while Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta registered declines from the previous month.
When compared to February 2020, EI usage has increased 270.5% across Canada as of June 2021. In Nova Scotia, EI usage was up 200.3% compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark. The largest percentage increases in EI usage were in British Columbia, followed by Ontario 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 (Jun 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 June 2021 with June 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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