Canada. Number of EI Beneficiaries Climb 21.9 %

The number of regular EI beneficiaries has climbed 21.9% since October 2008, reaching 610,200 in February. Over the same period, the number of regular EI beneficiaries has increased in almost all provinces and territories, with the largest percentage gains in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

The West and Ontario show largest increases in number of beneficiaries

In Alberta, the number of regular beneficiaries jumped by 27.3% in one month to 30,600 in February, bringing the total increase since October 2008 to 67.9%.

The number of beneficiaries in British Columbia reached 63,700 after an 11.6% increase in February. The total increase since October 2008 was 39.8%.

In Ontario, the 7.8% increase in February brought the number of regular EI beneficiaries to 198,900. Since October 2008, the number of beneficiaries has risen by 28.6%.

From January to February, the number of beneficiaries in Saskatchewan rose 7.3% to 10,000. Since October 2008, the number of beneficiaries has risen 17.6%, slower than the national average of 21.9%.

In February, the number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits increased by 44,300 or 7.8% from January. Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan experienced the strongest increases.

In recent months, labour market conditions in Canada have deteriorated significantly. Through the early part of 2008, employment slowed, and since October has fallen sharply.

Demographic and regional overview: Sharp increase in male beneficiaries

Regional data and data by sex and age on Employment Insurance are not seasonally adjusted and therefore should only be compared on a year-over-year basis.

Between February 2008 and February 2009, there was a larger increase in the number of men receiving regular benefits (+36.7%) compared with women (+20.6%).

The number of beneficiaries doubled in most large centres in Alberta
All census metropolitan areas in Canada have seen an increase in the number of regular beneficiaries in the past year.

The number of beneficiaries doubled in most large centres in Alberta between February 2008 and February 2009. In Calgary, the number of regular beneficiaries more than doubled to 11,700. In Edmonton, the 96.4% increase brought the number of beneficiaries to 10,900. Red Deer, Lethbridge, Wood Buffalo and Grande Prairie all doubled in number of beneficiaries. In Alberta, the drop in employment in recent months was spread across a number of sectors, including construction, trade, manufacturing and professional, scientific and technical services.

Sharp increases were also observed in Southwestern Ontario between February 2008 and February 2009. In Windsor, the number of regular beneficiaries climbed 103.8% to 11,700. Also affected were Kitchener (+96.0%), Hamilton (+83.4%) and London (+82.9%), as were Guelph, Tillsonburg, Woodstock, Stratford and Barrie. In Toronto, the number of regular beneficiaries rose 60.6%. During the same period, the sectors of the Ontario economy experiencing steep declines in employment were manufacturing; business, building and other support services; and construction and trade.

Between February 2008 and February 2009, the increase in the number of beneficiaries in British Columbia was widespread. At the same time, the decrease in employment affected a large number of sectors, including manufacturing; construction; transportation and warehousing; retail trade; and forestry and logging.

In British Columbia, the number of beneficiaries almost tripled in Williams Lake, and it doubled further north in Quesnel. The number also roughly doubled in Kelowna, Cranbrook, Chilliwack, Powell River and Penticton. In Victoria the number of beneficiaries increased 88.8%, while in Vancouver, the 12,300 additional beneficiaries represented an increase of 75.3% in one year.

Claims continue to flow in

To receive EI benefits, individuals must first submit a claim. Statistics on claims cover the month and provide an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries. In February, 325,700 claims were received, the largest number since comparable data are available in 1997. The number of claims received in Canada in February was up 51,000 or 18.6% from January.

There were more claims received in all provinces in February compared with January. The strongest increases were in Alberta (+27.7%) and Manitoba (+22.3%).

Source:Statistics Canada, April 28, 2009

~	Conference, Oct. 16, 2024. The War Against the Past: Fighting for our History

~	SLAV - Robert Lepage's Reaction

~	Author and Tolerance.ca Editor, Victor Teboul, Ph.D., to speak at the Arab World Festival of Montreal

~	Iran : Hey Ayatollah, Leave those kids alone! and Pink Floyd's remake

~	UN-backed group supports Somali Government’s peace overtures to rivals

~	Cargo vessel captured near Seychelles is commandeered to Somalia

~	U.S. and Oman Navy Rescue Indian Dhow from Somali Pirates - One Sailor Dead

~	Canada. 50% of tax filers participate in a private retirement savings plan

~	Somali Pirates capture second merchant vessel in 24h

~	Canada. 41% of adults have a high cholesterol level