For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
December 18, 2025EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, OCTOBER 2025 Monthly (October 2025 vs September 2025, seasonally adjusted regular beneficiaries)
In October 2025, there were 22,830 Nova Scotians in receipt of regular employment insurance benefits (seasonally adjusted). Nova Scotia's seasonally adjusted regular employment insurance usage increased by 250 (+1.1%) from revised September results to October.
There were 553,460 Canadians that received regular employment insurance benefits in October 2025 (seasonally adjusted), an increase of 6,190 (+1.1%) from the revised September 2025 value.
All provinces reported higher employment insurance usage in October, led by Alberta. Québec reported the slowest growth over September.
The number of employment insurance beneficiaries amounted to 4.1% of the labour force in Nova Scotia in October 2025. Nationally, the share of beneficiaries was 2.4% of the labour force. Newfoundland and Labrador had the largest share of beneficiaries of the labour force, while British Columbia had the lowest.
Year-over-year (October 2025 vs October 2024)
Compared to October 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage rose 1.8% (+410). National employment insurance usage increased 13.2% (+64,380) compared to October 2024. All provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reported higher employment insurance compared to one year ago, with the fastest growth reported in British Columbia and Alberta.
Use of employment insurance (as a share of the labour force) was lowest for youth (15-24) and highest for workers age 55 and over. Male use of employment insurance was higher as a share of the labour force than female use of employment insurance for all age cohorts in October 2025. Compared to one year ago, employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force was down for persons aged 15-24 and males age 55 and over, while it was up for core-aged and older females.
The year-over-year increase in employment insurance usage was concentrated among female core-aged and older workers, with a smaller increase for males aged 55 and over. These increases were only partially offset by declines among core-aged male workers and those aged 15-24.
Comparing unadjusted regular beneficiaries for October 2025 against October 2024, the fastest growth in employment insurance usage (in percentage terms) was in Lunenburg and Cumberland counties. The fastest declines were in Antigonish and Guysborough counties.
By occupation, employment insurance beneficiaries were more likely to be in technical trades/transportation, manufacturing/utilities, general trades, and education/law/social services/community/government. The largest increase year-over-year was among education/law/community/government. The largest decline among occupations was for helpers/labourers/other transport operators.
Year-to-date (January-October 2025 vs January-October 2024)
Compared to the first ten months of 2024, Nova Scotia's employment insurance usage increased 2.1%. National employment insurance usage increased 10.6%, year-to-date, with the fastest rise in Ontario. All provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador reported higher employment insurance usage year-to-date.
As a share of the labour force, employment insurance usage increased for older workers, and males aged 15-24 in the first ten months of 2025. There was a slight decline in employment insurance usage as a share of the labour force among male core-aged workers and females aged 15-24.
Year-to-date employment insurance usage was higher for core-aged and older workers of both sexes, partially offset by lower usage among youth. Employment insurance use among those aged 15-24 fell faster for females.
Comparing the first ten months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, employment insurance usage declined in Queens, Pictou, Guysborough, and Antigonish counties along with all four counties on Cape Breton Island. Employment insurance usage increased the most (in percentage terms) in Lunenburg county, followed by Halifax and Digby counties.
Year-to-date employment insurance usage increased across most occupational categories with the largest increase among art/culture/recreation/sport and the largest decline among helpers/labourers/other transport occupations.
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; Table 14-10-0456-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries (regular benefits) by province, territory and occupation, monthly, seasonally adjusted; Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months