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Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2017 and ending March 31, 2018
Annex 6: Key studies referenced in chapters 2 and 4

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

On this page

1. 2018 Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance Premium Rate

Author(s), Year

Office of the Chief Actuary, 2017

Objective(s)

The purpose of this report is to provide the Commission with all the information prescribed under section 66.3 of the EI Act. Pursuant to this section, the Chief Actuary shall provide the Commission with a report that sets out: i) the forecast premium rate for the upcoming year and a detailed analysis in support of the forecast; ii) the calculations performed for the purposes of sections 4, 66 and 69 of the EI Act; and iii) the source of the data, the actuarial and economic assumptions and the actuarial methodology used.

Key Finding(s)

  • The 2018 Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE) was $51,700 or a 0.8% increase from the 2017 MIE of $51,300.
  • The 2018 estimated employer premium reduction due to qualified wage-loss replacement (WLR) plans is $981 million, compared to $955 million in 2017.

Availability

This report is available on the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board’s website

http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/Eng/Docs/ei2018.pdf

2. Employment Insurance Waiting Period Reduction: 2 Weeks to 1 Week

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Employment Insurance Policy Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

This paper assess the impact of the legislative changes to the Employment Insurance Act that reduced the waiting period from two weeks to one week. It also looks at the average duration of claims that received an extra week of benefits from the waiting period reduction compared to those that did not, the number of claims with 1-week duration and the exhaustion rate of claims by EI benefit types.

Key Finding(s)

  • In 2017, among the completed claims who served a waiting period, 65.8% of regular claims, 71.1% of special benefit claims and 61.6% of fishing claims benefitted from the measure by receiving an extra week of benefits.
  • The number of regular claims with a one-week duration increased by 19.7% and 13.2% for special benefits – these claims would not have received benefits prior to the waiting period reduction.
  • Claims that received an extra week of regular benefits had much shorter duration (15.3 weeks on average) than those that did not (29.8 weeks on average).
  • During the periods analyzed, the exhaustion rate of regular and special claims remained relatively unchanged, and increased by 7.2 percentage points for fishing claims (compared to 2016).

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

3. Inflation and Fixed Dollar Thresholds: The EI Family Supplement

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Evaluation Directorate, 2014

Objective(s)

This paper examines the extent to which the number of families eligible to receive the EI family supplement has decreased over the period between 2001 and 2013. It also examines how the real value of the family supplement (adjusted for inflation) has evolved and explores the concept of an indexed eligibility threshold.

Key Finding(s)

  • Between 2001 and 2012, the number of households in Canada that received the EI family supplement has decreased by roughly 50%, from 160,155 claimants in 2001 to 79,598 in 2012. Many factors, including changes in family composition, real wage growth, and inflation, can explain this decrease. The total cost of the EI family supplement also has decreased, from $181.6 M in 2001 to $98.7 M in 2012.
  • The average nominal value of the family supplement paid to claimants has been relatively constant between 2001 and 2012, but when adjusted for inflation, the real value of the family supplement has decreased by 19% over the same period.
  • This paper suggested indexing the eligibility threshold and the value of the supplement to a measure of price increases. A first approach would be to use the same rate of increase that is used to adjust the maximum insured earnings to index family supplement eligibility. With this approach, the eligibility threshold would have been $31,504 in 2013. Under the second scenario based on the Consumer Price Index, the eligibility for family supplement would have been capped at $35,211 in 2013.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

4. Assessment of Anti-Poverty Effect of Employment Insurance Program

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Social Policy Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

The objective of this study is to estimate how many families and individuals have avoided situations of poverty through the provision of EI benefits, the effect of EI benefits on the poverty gap and how this effect varies by different sociodemographic groups.  

Key Finding(s)

  • The EI program significantly reduces the prevalence of poverty among those who receive at least $4,000 in EI benefits
  • The differences in poverty rate of unemployed people who received at least $4,000 in EI benefits and that of unemployed people who did not receive EI benefits were around 25 percentage points in 2009 and 15 percentage points in 2015. The poverty prevention effects of EI appear to be larger during a recession.
  • Based on survey data, in 2015, approximately 14,600 unemployed individuals were lifted out of poverty by the EI program, or an estimated 49,970 persons when including all related family members. This would represent about a 1 percentage point reduction in the low-income rate in Canada that year.
  • In 2015, EI benefit recipients have a significantly lower poverty gap ratio (26%) compared to the unemployed who did not receive EI benefits (45%).
  • Vulnerable groups, such as attached individuals, single parent families, persons with disabilities and Indigenous people would not likely be lifted out of poverty by the EI program, since they only represented about 2% of the impacted population.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

5. The Redistributional Impact of Employment Insurance, 2007 to 2009

Author(s), Year

Ross Finnie, Queen’s University School of Policy Studies; and Ian Irvine, Concordia University (for HRSDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2013)

Objective(s)

The objective of this study is to investigate the degree to which Canada’s EI program has redistributed purchasing power during the recent economic recession. More precisely, the period of investigation runs from 2007 to 2009, although results from the 2002 to 2006 period are also presented in order to place the recession period in a longer‑term context.

Key Finding(s)

  • EI redistributes income substantially when the unit of analysis is individual earnings. The lower deciles of the distribution benefit both on the contributions and benefits sides.
  • The quantitative redistributional impact of EI in 2009 appears to be approximately twice the impact of 2007.
  • In 2007 and 2008, Quebec was the largest recipient of benefits (even without accounting for family benefits). However, 2009 saw a reversal of this pattern: Quebec’s benefits increased by 20%, whereas Ontario’s benefits increased by almost 50%, a reflection of how much harder the recession hit the employment sector in Ontario than in Quebec.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

6. Financial Impacts of Receiving Employment Insurance

Author(s), Year

Constantine Kapsalis, Data Probe Economic Consulting Inc., 2010

Objective(s)

This study explores the financial impact of receiving EI benefits. It probes the evolution of individual incomes before, during and after the receipt of EI benefits, as well as the influence of receiving EI on household consumption.

Key Finding(s)

  • The average EI beneficiary experienced a 38% drop in wages during a year with EI. The most important offsetting factor was EI; it replaced about 38% of lost wages. The second most important factor was investment income; it replaced about 9% of lost wages. Other income sources played a lesser role.
  • Lower income families received a higher return of their contributions than did higher income families. In fact, families with after-tax income below the median received 34% of total benefits and paid 18% of all premiums in 2007. The study also found that EI halved the incidence of low income among beneficiaries (from 14% to 7%) during that period.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

7. Evaluation of the Connecting Canadians with Available Jobs Initiative

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Evaluation Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

This report presents the key findings and lessons learned of the evaluation of Employment Insurance measures put in place in 2013 as part of a federal initiative to better connect Canadians with available jobs; the Connecting Canadians with Available Jobs (CCAJ) initiative. The initiative was comprised of four measures, which are each assessed in the evaluation:

  1. Legislative changes and enhanced integrity measures to strengthen claimant’s obligations to undertake a reasonable job search for suitable employment.
  2. Enhancements to Job Alerts and labour market information to support job-search activities.
  3. Improved connections between the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the EI program to ensure Canadians are considered before temporary foreign workers.
  4. Collaboration projects with interested provinces and territories to test whether providing EI claimants with information on employment supports earlier in their claim would decrease EI usage.

Key Finding(s)

  • It was found that there was a need to facilitate more effective job searches and encourage Employment Insurance claimants to accept all suitable work. While some of the measures somewhat contributed to the initiative’s objectives, others had mixed effects.
  • Enhanced integrity measures led to better monitoring of claimants and helped them return to work faster. However, the legislative changes did not encourage them to increase their job search efforts. Overall, they had low awareness of the changes.
  • Enhancements to Job Alerts and labour market information increased the awareness and take-up of Job Alerts. However, there was no significant improvement in labour market outcomes.
  • Improved connections between the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the EI Program had minimal impact on the number of Canadians considered and hired for jobs for which employers requested temporary foreign workers.
  • Collaboration projects with British Columbia and Manitoba had limited effectiveness. Evidence suggests that this type of intervention could be effective if it is better targeted at certain subgroups of EI claimants.

Availability

This report is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada webpage at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/reports/evaluations/connecting-canadians-available-jobs-initiative.html

8. ROE-based Measure of EI Eligibility: Update 2001-2017

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Evaluation Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

This study examines the percentage of job separators with enough hours to meet the variable entrance requirement (VER) and the percentage of laid-off job separators with an EI claim. It looks at the eligibility and the claim rates across unemployment rates, provinces, industries and regions.

Key Finding(s)

  • The percentage of individual ROEs with enough hours to qualify for EI regular benefits increased from 44.9% to 46.7% during the 2001 to 2017 period.
  • Between 68% and 74% of job separators accumulated enough hours in the previous 52 weeks to qualify for EI regular benefits.
  • The percentage of the laid-off job separators with enough combined hours in the last 52 weeks to qualify for EI regular benefit decreased from 75.4% in 2001 to 68.2% in 2017, meaning fewer laid-off job separators have qualified for EI regular benefits.
  • In 2001, 2-in-3 laid-off workers with enough hours in the last 52 weeks received EI benefits compared to 1-in-2 laid-off workers in 2017, reflecting more favorable labour market conditions.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

9. Record of Employment and Interruptions of Earnings: Firms

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2018

Objective(s)

The study examines the extent to which employers issue a Record of Employment (ROE) when there is an interruption of earnings and how the percentage of earnings interruptions without an ROE varies by characteristics of the job.

Key finding(s)

  • The percentage of earnings interruptions without an ROE generally declined over the years from 46.2% in 2000 to 30.2% in 2014.
  • The frequency of earnings interruptions without an ROE varies by industry sector, firm size, earnings percentiles, union membership, and provinces and territories.
  • In 2014, the Service sector had the highest percentage of earnings interruptions without an ROE (32.7%) while the Manufacturing industry had the lowest percentage (18.1%).
  • The percentage of earnings interruptions without an ROE was 40.8% for small-sized firms in 2014, which is about 17 percentage points higher than for medium sized or large firms (23.7%).
  • The percentage of earnings interruptions without an ROE decreases with higher earnings.
  • A higher proportion of earnings interruptions without an ROE was observed for non-unionized jobs (34.2%) compared to unionized jobs (12.9%).
  • The Territories had the highest proportion of interruptions without an ROE (40.8%), followed by British Colombia (35.9%).

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

10. EI-Eligible Job Separators that Do Not Apply: Characteristics of Non-Application

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Evaluation Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

This study examines the financial impact on survey respondents who were estimated to be eligible for regular and special EI benefits, but recalled that they did not apply.

Key Finding(s)

  • About one in five eligible job separators recalled that they did not apply for EI regular benefits. Most were able to find another job right away, while some were not eligible for benefits and others stated that they did not need the benefit. These respondents were split between experiencing an increase or a decrease in income in the year after job separation
  • About one in three respondents that were eligible for special benefits recalled that they did not apply. Most believed they did not need the benefit, some found another job right away and others believed they were ineligible for benefits. These respondents reported a decrease in income in the year after job separation.
  • One in ten respondents who recalled that they did not apply for regular benefits received Old Age Security benefits in the year of separation or the following year, while one in six received education tax credits.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

11. Evaluation of the Working While on Claim Pilot Projects

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2018

Objective(s)

The purpose of this report is to present key findings from the evaluation of the EI Working while on Claim Pilot Project 8, Pilot Projects 12 and 17 and Pilot Projects 18 and 19. These pilots were in effect during the 2005 to 2016 period and their main objective was to test whether changing the treatment of employment earnings gained while on an EI claim would encourage claimants to work more while receiving benefits.

Key Finding(s)

  • Rule no. 1 (Pilots 8, 12 and 17) increased allowable earnings from $50 or 25% of a claimants weekly EI benefit rate to $75 or 40%. Relative to the original rules,
    • Work with full benefits increase by 69% for women and 96% for men in high unemployment regions; and
    • The probability of claimants working with full or partial benefits increased by 7% in other regions of Canada.
    • In all regions studied, the rule change reduced the probability of claimants working with no benefits by 7% in high unemployment regions and by 16-20% in all other regions.
  • Rule no. 2 (Pilots 18 and 19) introduced a 50% reduction in benefits on the first dollar earned until earnings reach 90% of the claimants weekly insurable earnings. It was found to be more effective at encouraging claimants to work more while on claim compared to previous pilots.
    • Work while on claim increased by 27%.
    • The number of weeks worked increased by about 1 week for claimants subject to the rule.
    • The amount of EI benefits paid decreased by at least $100 per claim.
  • The report recommends taking appropriate steps to increase awareness of the rules amongst claimants.

Availability

This report is available on the Working while on claim pilot projects page.

12. Who are Workers Working for When Working While on Claim?

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2016

Objective(s)

This study investigates the pre-claim and post-claim relationships between EI claimants who work while on claim and their employers. The target population is composed of “pure” regular claimants (those who received only regular benefits during their claim) who started their claim in 2010.

Key Finding(s)

  • Almost three-quarters (73.8%) of claimants who worked while on claim did so for a single employer. 
  • The average claimant who worked while on claim, worked about one-third (32.3%) of the weeks spent on claim. The weeks of employment (both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the weeks on claim) increase with the number of employers. This suggests that those who try to work more weeks during the claim have to look for employment opportunities with more employers.
  • For 76.0% of claimants, working during an EI claim led to longer than a year employment after the claim.
  • Virtually all claimants (94.8%) who worked while on claim worked for the same employer before and/or after their claim.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

13. Employment Insurance Support for Apprenticeship Training

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Employment Insurance Policy Directorate, and Service Canada Employment Insurance Benefits Processing Directorate, 2018.

Objective(s)

This study examines the performance of administrative processing of EI claims for apprentices, identifies the source and/or reason that warrants manual intervention, and analyzes the impacts of not serving the waiting period.

Key Finding(s)

  • A greater share of EI apprentices (84.5% in FY1617) had their application finalized within 28 days of filling compared with all regular claimants (78.5% in FY1617).
  • Overall, 76.2% of the 57,099 applications from EI apprentices in FY1617 have been fully or partially processed automatically compared with 72.7% for all applications. Among all apprentices’ applications processed automatically, over three-quarters were fully processed automatically.
  • The main reason for delays in the processing of an application is the delay in receiving the Record of Employment.
  • 40.5% of EI apprentices filed their application only after their course had already begun, suggesting that they were possibly unaware of the filing process, did not have all the information required to submit their application early enough or had sufficient financial resources to afford to wait before receiving their first EI benefits payments.
  • Of all apprentices’ applications that were finalized in FY1617, 45.8% were exempted from serving the waiting period. On average, apprentices received $416 in EI benefits per week.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

14. Job-related Training of Older Workers

Author(s), Year

Jungwee Park, Statistics Canada, 2012

Objective(s)

This study focus on three areas: if there is differences in the participation rate in job-related training between those aged 55 to 64 (older workers) and those aged 25 to 54 (core aged employees); the characteristics of older workers that are associated with an increased participation in job training; and finally how the participation of older workers in employer-supported training has changed over time. 

Key Finding(s)

  • Older-workers (55 to 64) have a much lower probability of taking job-related training than core-aged individuals. Specifically, 32% of older workers took training compared to 45% of core-aged workers.
  • Among older workers, the characteristics associated with lower training rates were education less than postsecondary, temporary employment, and sales and service jobs.
  • The training gap between older and younger workers has been closing, primarily because of increases in educational attainment and changes in types of jobs.

Availability

This report is available on Statistics Canada’s web site

15. Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report: Apprenticeships Before and After the 2008 Recession

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Labour Market Information Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

The purpose of this report is to study EI support and apprenticeship training before and after the 2008 recession.

Key Finding(s)

  • The average apprentice in Canada is male and under the age of 25 with a high school education. According to the National Apprenticeship Survey (NAS), registrants are getting younger over time.
  • In the 2015 NAS, 57.5% of apprentices completed their apprenticeships training, while 42.5% discontinued their training. One-third of the discontinuers could not complete their training mainly because of financial difficulties and insufficient work, as well as health and other personal or family reasons.
  • The number of new apprenticeship registrations dropped substantially with the recession, with a 15.2% (14,000 registrations) decrease from 2008 to 2009. The number of EI claims from apprentices increased with the recession by 24%.
  • The total amount of EI benefits paid out for apprentices during the recession was about twice as much as its pre-recession level.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

16. Descriptive Analysis of EI Claimants Referred to Full-time Training

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Employment Insurance Policy Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

The purpose of this study is to examine EI regular claimants who received referrals to full-time training under Section 25 of the EI Act. The study looked at the demographic profile, trends and EI utilization over time and across jurisdictions.

Key Finding(s)

  • In FY1718, in Canada, approximately 73,100 regular claimants were referred to full-time training. Of which, nearly two-thirds (63% or 46,200) were apprentices who obtained referrals for their technical training portion of their apprenticeship program. The rest of the recipients of Section 25 referrals (37% or 26,900) were non-apprentices (i.e. referred non-apprentices).
  • Over the past 13 years, the patterns of referrals varied by group. The number of referred apprentices increased during periods of economic shocks and uncertainty and decreased during periods of economic growth and stability. On the contrary, despite a significant increase prior to the economic recession in 2008/09, the number of referred non-apprentices and their percentage of total regular claimants decreased over time. There were 71,200 or 4.2% in FY0809 and 26,900 or 2.1% in 2017/18.
  • Compared to regular claimants, referred apprentices used fewer weeks of regular benefits and were less likely to exhaust their entitlement. Referred non-apprentices used more weeks of regular benefits and were more likely to exhaust their entitlement.
  • After finishing their block of full-time technical training, referred apprentices tended to stop receiving EI benefits. Whereas, referred non-apprentices more often stayed on EI and continued to collect regular benefits after their training. 
  • Compared to regular claimants, referred apprentices were younger, more often men, resided in the Western provinces and had worked in the construction industry. Compared to regular claimants, referred non-apprentices were younger, resided in the Atlantic provinces and had worked in different industries (retail trade, public administration and accommodation and food services).

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

17. Training and the Duration of Employment Insurance Benefits

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Economic Policy Directorate, 2016

Objective(s)

This study, using data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), looked at the impact of participation in job-related training on the incidence of receiving EI regular benefits and the duration of regular benefit payments during the period 2002 to 2008.

Key Finding(s)

  • For men who participated in job-related training in a given year, the probability of receiving EI regular benefits in the following year was reduced by 1.4 percentage points, from an average predicted probability of 4.7%.
  • For women who participated in job-related training in a given year, the probability of receiving EI regular benefits in the following year was found to be reduced by 0.6 percentage points, from an average predicted probability of 4.1%.
  • Among different types of training, it was found that it is employer-sponsored and workplace-based job-related training that reduced the incidence of receiving EI regular benefits; self-sponsored and classroom-based job-related training were not found to have an impact.
  • With respect to the duration of EI regular benefits, participation in job-related training in a given year had only a limited impact, reducing the duration of benefit payments in the following year by 1.6 days among male recipients and 0.9 days among female recipients.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

18. Usage of the Work-Sharing Program: 2000/2001 to 2016/2017

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2018

Objective(s)

This report examines the usage of the Work-Sharing program, including the number and distribution of layoffs averted and the incidence of shutdowns among Work-Sharing employers from FY0001 to FY1617.

Key Finding(s)

  • From FY0001 to FY1617, Work-Sharing participants accounted for less than 1% of employment in Canada.
  • Work-sharing usage and expenditures are counter-cyclical: the Program is used more intensively during periods of economic downturn and less intensively during periods of economic recovery.
  • The average benefit duration was around 20 weeks. It peaked at 39.4 in FY0809 when temporary extensions were available.
  • The estimated layoffs averted varied from lows of around 1,000 in FY0708 and in FY1415 to more than 24,000 in FY0910.
  • More than half of employers (55.7%) who participated in the Work-Sharing program in 2001 had shut down in 2015, compared to 75.4% of non-Work-Sharing employers during the same period.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

19. Enhance Understanding of the Use of the Premium Reduction Program

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

 This study examines the characteristics of employers offering short-term disability plans (STDPs) recognized by the Premium Reduction Program (PRP) and compares the usage of EI Sickness benefits between claimants covered by a STDP (i.e. EI is a second payer) and those who are not (EI is a first payer).

Key Finding(s)

  • The number of employers offering STDPs decreased by 12% over the 2000-2015 period. Large-sized employers increased by 3.0% while medium and small-sized employers decreased by 5.5% and 16.0% respectively.
  • Employers offering STDPs declined in the Private Services and Manufacturing sectors by 13.2% and 54.5% respectively. PRP usage grew in the Prairies provinces by 2.1% while Quebec and Ontario saw declines of 26.8% and 18.4% respectively.
  • 9 in 10 employers offered Weekly Indemnity plans to their employees – a minimum of 15 weeks of benefits.
  • The number of employees covered by an employer-provided STDP has increased by 11.4% over the 2000-2015 period.
  • Covered claimants who used EI as a second payer had a longer average duration of sickness benefits and a higher exhaustion rate than claimants who were not covered in each year from 2000 to 2015, independent of gender and age group.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

20. Compassionate Care Benefits: Update (2004/2005 to 2015/2016)

Author(s), Year

ESDC, Evaluation Directorate, 2018

Objective(s)

The report describes the impact of the 2016 extension of the maximum duration on compassionate care benefits usage, and presents a socio-economic profile of individuals who applied for and received the benefits. 

Key Finding(s)

  • In FY1516, most compassionate care applicants were caring for their mother or father (58.1 %), followed by a spouse or partner (27.5%).
  • On average, 8.7 weeks of benefits were paid in FY1516 compared to 4.8 in FY1011.
  • Approximately one third of compassionate care applicants did not receive benefits. The main reason for not receiving the benefits was that the applicants received other employment insurance benefits, followed by the absence of the medical certificate.
  • Applicants in British Columbia and Territories were statistically significantly more likely to have their applications approved.
  • Multivariate analysis suggests that the probability of not using all weeks available to the claimants is mainly explained by the mortality of care recipients. However, the impact of the mortality on this probability is mitigated by the extension of the benefits duration from 6 to 26 weeks.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

21. Enhance Understanding of Self-Employed Workers’ Participation in EI Special benefits

Author(s), Year

ESDC: Evaluation Directorate, 2019

Objective(s)

The purpose of this report is to provide additional information on the characteristics of self-employed Canadians who registered, cancelled or terminated and received benefits through the EI Special Benefits for Self-Employed (SBSE) program from 2010 to 2015.

Key Finding(s)

  • Compared to non-participants, when they registered, SBSE participants were, on average, younger, more often women, reported lower net incomes from self-employment, and had a higher incidence of additional paid employment. However, the incidence of paid employment was much lower the year they established a claim.
  • SBSE participants typically resided in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, or Quebec when they registered, cancelled or terminated, and claimed benefits.
  • SBSE participants waited about a year and a half (82 weeks on average) between registration and first claim.
  • Nearly all SBSE participants who established a claim were women, the majority of whom were 25 to 34 years old, and most commonly received parental and maternity benefits. Over three-quarters of claimants who received maternity benefits used all 15 weeks available to them while 45.9% of claimants who received parental benefits used the full 35-week entitlement. 
  • On average, 2-in-3 claimants appeared to continue their self-employment activity after claiming special benefits.

Availability

A PDF version of this document can be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a TTY, call 1-800-926-9105. The PDF version can only be sent via e-mail. Please note there will be a certain delay before receiving the documents.

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