Chapter 3: Impact and effectiveness of Employment Insurance benefits (EBSMs–Part II of the Employment Insurance Act)

Decline in the number of EBSM clients and interventions^{Footnote 3}

In FY1819, provinces and territories served 670,431 clients under the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs), a decline of 3.7% compared to the previous year. The number of LMDA interventions delivered to clients decreased by 4.5% year over year, to a total of 1,023,493 interventions.

Expanded eligibility under the LMDAs

Effective April 1, 2018, eligibility for Employment Benefits (for example, training, wage subsidies) was expanded to include all unemployed individuals who have made minimum EI premium contributions. With the expanded eligibility, a new client group—known as Premiums Paid Eligible (PPE)—was created to report on the unique characteristics of this clientele. In addition, eligibility for Employment Assistance Services was expanded to include all Canadians, whereas previous access was limited to unemployed Canadians.

PPE represented 9.7% of total clients; with those who were previously non-insured clients largely falling into the new group. Proportionally, Saskatchewan (27.1%), Nunavut (15.9%), Northwest Territories (15.0%) and Ontario (12.1%) had the highest percentage of PPE among their clients. The lowest proportion of PPE were in Newfoundland and Labrador (1.2% of all clients).

At the national level, roughly 54% of PPE clients were women and 46% were men. By comparison, across all client groups, fewer than 43% were women and more than 57% were men. This suggests the expanded eligibility under PPE has enabled more women to access training supports.

By age, most PPE were core-aged (69.4%) clients, followed by youth (16.6%) and workers aged 55 or older (13.8%). The largest cohorts of youth PPE were in New Brunswick (37%), Prince Edward Island (36%) and Saskatchewan (37%). PPE clients aged 55 or older were more prevalent in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, where they represented approximately 19% of all clients in both provinces.

Across Canada, PPE accessed a total of 104,537 interventions, most (82.6%) of which were Employment Assistance Services. With the broadened eligibility, PPE accessed 18,187 Employment Benefit interventions, previously accessible only by active and former EI claimants prior to the current fiscal year. ESDC will continue to monitor and assess PPE trends as data become available.

As a share of all clients, active EI claimants represented 41.4% of total clients, followed by non-insured (34.5%), and former EI claimants (14.6%) in FY1819. Active and former EI claimant client shares among all clients declined by 2.7 and 1.6 percentage points respectively, compared to the previous fiscal year.

Table 1 - Client descriptions

For accessibility reasons, the information is presented in text format. Consult the PDF version for the table.

Active claimants are those who had an active EI Part I regular claim when they requested assistance under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act. Typically, they have stronger and more recent job attachment. They tend to be able to return to work more quickly than those with weaker ties to employment. Active claimants who are considered job-ready from an analytical point of view often seek out short-term interventions under EI Part II to find their next employment opportunity. Others require longer-term Employment Benefits to upgrade their skills, establish certification or refine their job search strategies.

Former claimants are those who completed an EI claim in the previous 5 years, or who began a parental or maternity claim in the last 5 years when they requested assistance under Part II. They are no longer eligible for EI Part I; however, they remain eligible for EI Part II under certain criteria.^{Footnote 4}Former claimants do not receive income support under Part I of the Employment Insurance Act while they complete an Employment Benefit intervention under EI Part II; however, they may receive Part II income support while completing their return-to-work action plan.

Premiums Paid Eligible are those who have made minimum Employment Insurance premium contributions above the premium refund threshold (that is $2,000 in earnings) in at least 5 of the last 10 years.

Non-insured clients are unemployed individuals who are neither active nor former EI clients. Non-insured clients usually have little substantive or recent job attachment. They include new labour force participants and individuals who were formerly self-employed without paid employment earnings. While these clients are not eligible for Employment Benefits under EI Part II, they may access Employment Assistance Services.

Chart 1 – Text version

Client type	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active claimants	388 714	463 158	372 340	326 892	319 904	348 909	339 795	356 828	351 362	313 998	286 197
Former claimants	95 468	104 972	114 356	104 816	100 522	97 417	91 999	92 689	95 583	115 927	101 848
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	67 490
Non-insured clients	209 871	209 020	269 350	214 587	241 834	264 716	257 665	284 607	304 927	285 733	240 075

Since FY0809, the number of EI active claimants has declined by 26.4%, while former EI claimants and non-insured clients increased by 6.7% and 14.4%, respectively. The drop in active EI claimants is largely attributable to the strong performance of Canada's labour market, resulting in an overall decline in EI program use among Canadians. In turn, provinces and territories focused on serving clients more removed from the labour market.

Age distribution^{Footnote 5}

In FY1819, most EBSM clients were in their core working years (25 to 54 years old), totalling 406,743 individuals, or 63.1% of all clients. Youth - those aged 15 to 24 years old - represented 22.3% of all clients (143,684), and clients aged 55 or older were the remaining 13.4% of the shares (86,370 clients). Youth clients increased significantly by 8.2%, followed by clients aged 55 or older (+1.7%), compared to FY1718. Core-aged clients declined by 1.6% year over year. The increase in youth clients resulted in their overall shares edging up, with a decline in the share of core-aged. Whereas, clients aged 55 or older remained unchanged at 13.4% of overall client shares.

Chart 2 – Text version

Age distribution	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24 years old)	18%	18%	19%	19%	19%	19%	19%	21%	20%	21%	22%
Core-age (25 to 54 years old)	72%	72%	70%	70%	70%	69%	68%	67%	67%	66%	63%
Workers (aged 55+)	8%	9%	9%	9%	11%	12%	12%	12%	13%	13%	13%

In the context of an aging labour force, the number of EBSM clients aged 55 or older increased by over 79% compared to FY0809 results. Clients aged 55 or older now represent 13.4% all total clients, compared to 8.5% a decade earlier.

Youth participation in labour market programming also increased (+38.3%) in the past 10 years, as provinces and territories prioritized serving younger people to help counter the effects of an aging population, and developing and maintaining a competitive workforce. This age cohort now represents over 22% of all clients, compared to 17.8% 10 years earlier.

Given the growth of both youth and clients aged 55 or older, the share of core-age workers (25 to 54 years old) declined over the last 10 years. Core-age workers now represent 63.1% of all clients, compared to 73.3% in FY0809. 

Designated groups^{Footnote 6}

In support of employment equity principles, ESDC collects information on the EBSM participation of women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minority groups and persons with disabilities. As participants^{Footnote 7} voluntarily self-identify, annual fluctuations may be due to changes in self-identification rates.

• Women participated in a total of 474,830 EBSM interventions in FY1819, a 1.5% increase year-over-year (45.3% of all interventions delivered to Canadians). Women accessed predominately EAS-only interventions (88.3%); at a higher rate than men (79.4%). Among participants who were women, most were non-insured clients (39.2%), followed by active EI claimants (31.1%) and former EI claimants (18.2%). The remainder of women participants (10.4%) were under the new PPE client category.
• In FY1819, a total of 141,046 participants self-identified as persons with disabilities, an increase of 0.3% year-over-year. Persons with disabilities participated in 13.4% of all interventions delivered in FY1819. The vast majority (90.5%) participated in an EAS-only intervention, compared to 9.5% who participated in Employment Benefits.
• Indigenous peoples participated in 111,515 interventions in FY1819, representing an increase of 27.4% year-over-year. The increase is reflective of a number of jurisdictions prioritizing to serve under-represented groups and improve their employment outcomes, as well as, continued growth observed under ASETS programming. As a share of all ESBM interventions delivered in Canada, Indigenous peoples participated in 10.6% of the total, including programming delivered through ASETS. As in previous years, most Indigenous participants accessed on EAS-only interventions (93.4% of all interventions).
• Members of visible minority groups participated in 73,772 interventions in FY1819, dropping by 5.1% year-over-year. Among all interventions delivered in Canada, members of visible minority groups represented 7.0% of all participants, compared to 7.2% in FY1718. The majority of interventions (91.9%) were EAS-only, compared to 8.6% for Employment Benefits.

Official languages

To foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society, and to help ensure that labour market programs and services are delivered in both official languages, all LMDAs contain commitments by provinces and territories to have programs and services delivered in both official languages, where there is significant demand.

Employment Assistance Services

EAS interventions provide crucial support to those who have been absent from the labour market for an extensive period or who have low job attachment. They may also support new immigrants or young people who are entering the Canadian labour market for the first time. These interventions are reported in one of the 3 following categories:

• Employment services
• Group services, or
• Individual counselling

In FY1819, a total of 859,051 EAS interventions were delivered, a decrease of 7.6% year-over-year. Total expenditures on EAS increased by 1.6% compared to the previous year, to a total of $705.4 million.

Employment services interventions continued to be the most common EAS intervention type, accounting for 58.8% of all EAS interventions in FY1819. A total of 505,182 employment services interventions were delivered, a decrease of 5.9% year-over-year. Group services dropped by 14.1%, for a total of 18,698 interventions delivered. In turn, the share of group services among all EAS-type interventions edged down to 2.2%, compared to 2.3% in the previous year. Individual counselling is particularly important when supporting clients who face barriers to employment, and often need action plans as a pathway to Employment Benefits. A total of 335,171 interventions were delivered in FY1819, declining by 9.7% year-over-year.

Other support measures

The Labour Market Partnership (LMP) measure facilitates collaboration between employers, employees and employer associations, as well as community groups and communities to develop solutions to labour force imbalances, such as persistent high unemployment or skill shortages. Under LMPs, employer-sponsored training includes assistance to employers to support approved training activities for employees in order to maintain their employment. This may include employees affected by technological or structural changes in the economy. In FY1819, LMP expenditures totalled $253.4 million, increasing by 47.4% year-over-year.

Research and Innovation (R&I) initiatives identify better ways of helping people prepare for, return to or maintain employment and participate productively in the labour force. In FY1819, R&I expenditures totalled $94 million, compared to $320.3 million in the previous year.

*Expenditures for Employment Assistance Services are reported at the aggregate level by most provinces and territories. 

Targeted measures under LMDAs in FY1819

In FY1819, the Government of Canada made available additional time-limited targeted funding under LMDAs to support workers and communities affected by duties and tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian softwood exports, as well as steel and aluminum products. In addition, Budget 2018 announced additional funding to assist workers in seasonal industries. For FY1819, nearly $75 million was available to provinces and territories under these 3 measures:

• $20.5M for workers in seasonal industries
• $25M for workers affected by steel and aluminum trade dispute, and
• $29.1M for workers affected by the softwood lumber trade dispute

Provinces and territories accessed roughly $59 million of the total to support workers with LMDA-funding programming. For example, British Columbia used some of the funding towards 6 projects offering skills training and work experience in communities affected by the softwood lumber downturn.

To support workers, provinces and territories accessed more than $59M under the 3 targeted measures of the $75M made available in FY1819.

SkillsAdvance Ontario supported laid off steel and aluminum workers with training during rotating and temporary plant shutdowns to deal with reduced business, resulting from US-imposed steel tariffs, skilled labour shortages and a surge in imports from non-NAFTA countries.

Newfoundland and Labrador used additional funding for workers in seasonal industries to respond to circumstances such as industry closures and downsizing in fish processing. Through the Fish Plant Worker Program, the Province focused on creating short-term employment with wage subsidy supports for workers impacted by the downturn in the fishing sector.

In Nova Scotia, Workplace Initiatives worked with the Fishery and Tourism industries and other government partners to develop innovative approaches for seasonal workers. This included symposia to understand the needs and challenges in relation to seasonal work in these industries.

More information on the additional targeted funding measures is available in section 2 of this chapter.

FY1819 Employment benefits and support measures key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

¹ EI Part II Pan-Canadian services to individuals are through the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.

² Age distribution does not equal 100%, as the “unknown” category is not reported here. Date of birth is not collected for clients in SD-Apprentices and Group Services.

Interventions: 1,067,991

Interventions	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	164,442	16.0%
Support Measures: EAS	859,051	7.6%
Pan-Canadian	44,498	24.1%

Relative share

Relative share	FY1819	Year-over-year change (p.p.)
Employment Benefits	16.1%	3.0
Support Measures: EAS	83.9%	3.0

Expenditures³

Expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$1,114.8	7.7%
Support Measures: EAS	$705.4	1.6%
LMPs and R&I	$347.4	8.4%
Pan-Canadian	$408.6	240%
Total Expenditures	$2,618	18.4%

³ Totals may not add up exactly due to rounding; accounting adjustments are not included.

Managing for results

Indicator	Total	Year-over-year change
Active Claimants Served	286,197	8.9%
Returns to Employment	190,754	7.6%
Estimated Unpaid Benefits ($ Million)	$1,071.0	2.9%

ESDC monitors the results of EBSM-similar programming delivered by provinces and territories through 3 key performance indicators:

• the number of active EI claimants served^{Footnote 10} 
• the number of EI clients who return to employment following an intervention,^{Footnote 11}  and
• the amount of unpaid EI Part I benefits resulting from returns to employment

In the context of improving labour market and economic conditions in FY1819 throughout most parts of Canada, the number of active EI claimants served (286,197) dropped by 8.9% year-over-year. Returns to work increased by 7.6% year-over-year, with a total of 190,754 clients finding employment within 6 months of completing their interventions. Stemming from the declines in active EI claimants, unpaid EI Part I benefits totalled $1.071 billion, declining by 2.9% compared to the previous year.

Table 5 presents supplementary performance indicators at the national and provincial/territorial level, contextualized with labour market aggregates. Since multiple factors can influence results at the individual, jurisdictional and national level, these indicators cannot be solely attributed to the LMDAs.

At the national level, 62.6% of active EI claimants began their first LMDA-funded intervention within 12 weeks after their Benefit Commencement Period (BCP). Compared to FY1718, this is an increase of 3.1 percentage points, where 59.5% of active claimants began within 12 weeks that year. At the provincial/territorial level, most jurisdictions experienced an increase, as well, with results ranging from 76.3% in Quebec, to 32.1% in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In FY1819, Canada's returns to work from interventions among active clients, expressed as a proportion of the country's labour force, was 1.0%. Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces were at or above the national average. At the same time, unpaid EI regular benefits stemming from returns to work, expressed as a proportion of total EI regular benefits paid, was 10.0% at the national level. Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia posted higher proportions than the national figure. Only Quebec registered above the national average for these 2 ratios. This suggests an effective and efficient balance between returning clients to work as soon as possible, while ensuring the necessary active employment services for employment success over a mid-to long-term horizon.

Newfoundland and Labrador: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 9,753

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
9,211	542

Total interventions: 20,933

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	7,246	9.8%
Support Measures: EAS	13,687	26.5%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	34.6%	4.5
Support Measures: EAS	65.4%	4.5

Total allocation: $135.5 million¹

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$113.3	0.9%
Support Measures: EAS	$10.1	47.2%
LMP and R&I	$10.6	8.8%
Total Expenditures2	$134.0	4.0%

¹ Newfoundland and Labrador invested $486,760 of its total allocation towards administration costs, representing almost 6.0% of the Budget 2017 additional funding the Province received in FY1819.
² Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Estimated Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$17.47	$16.16	7.5%

Compared to the previous fiscal year, labour market conditions improved slightly in FY1819. Employment increased by 3,700 (+1.7%), all in part-time positions, ending 5 consecutive years of decline, while the unemployment rate improved from 14.7% to 13.0%, the lowest in the past 4 years. Employment growth was concentrated in the services-producing sector (+4,400; +2.5%), led by gains in public administration (+2,400; +16.2%), wholesale trade (+1,600; +37.5%), as well as in information, culture and recreation (+1,500; +23.4%). In the goods-producing sector (-700; -1.4%), declines were recorded in most industries, led by construction (-1,200; -5.9%). This partially offset the increase in forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas (+1,600; +13.5%). 

In an ongoing period of economic adjustment, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador offered programs and services under its LMDA to improve the skills of residents. The aim was to address labour market demands, support displaced workers impacted by labour force adjustments and company closures, and address new and ongoing challenges and opportunities. Provincial investment priorities for FY1819 included:

• providing mechanisms to develop a highly educated and skilled workforce
• implementing initiatives to support a strong labour supply, with a focus on under-represented groups
• continuing development of a comprehensive human resource plan to support sector diversification and a productive and knowledge-intensive economy, and
• developing a responsive and adaptive workforce, through effective employment and skills training programming, with a focus on unemployed and underemployed individuals from underrepresented groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous groups, youth, and mature workers)

3.2.2.1 Managing for results

As 1 of the conditions of the amended LMDA, Newfoundland and Labrador is working with ESDC to implement the Targeting, Referral and Feedback (TRF) system. Evaluations of the LMDAs demonstrated that clients who accessed services in the first 2 to 3 months of their EI Part I claim had better employment and earnings outcomes, and were able to return to work more quickly. LMDA clients who were active EI claimants often did not access programs and services until 6 months or later into their claim. The TRF system will assist the Province in improving outcomes for LMDA clients. A pilot test started in February 2020.

As noted in the FY1718 Monitoring and Assessment Report, the Province contracted a third‑party service provider (Employment Options) to deliver employment counselling and case management to EI-eligible clients in the larger centres of the Province. In FY1819 Employment Options opened its first office in Grand Falls. The company has since expanded and opened offices in St. John's East, St. John's West, and Corner Brook. This increase in capacity aligns with the vision and goals of the Workforce Innovation Centre. The focus was to identify ways to better help people prepare for, find, return to, or maintain sustainable employment. Employment Assistance Services are still available at the Department's employment centres across the Province. They assist EI-eligible individuals with job searches, resume writing, labour market information, as well as career and employment needs assessments. As part of the Performance Measurement Strategy, changes were made in the Labour Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS) to capture the required reporting fields for ESDC. This increase in capacity, combined with the enhancements in LaMPSS, allowed for improved capture of data and program results. As well, the Province is working with Community Partners to make similar changes to their Accountability Resource Management System (ARMS), to better capture the required fields as outlined in the Performance Measurement Strategy. The schema was provided to the ARMS technical team, who will create xml files for each community partner. This will be sent to ESDC via secure upload. Full implementation is expected for 2020.

The province also updated its online resources to better assist clients with their career planning and job search needs. Through the Provincial SkillsPass NL Project, targeted online programs help clients secure and maintain employment. This training program will give job searchers the tools and confidence needed to find suitable employment and build their career. Every client training record associated with a client's online profile is secured in an online database allowing the client to demonstrate training completion and credential attainment. The SkillsPass Program gives career counsellors the ability to track and monitor the client's progress. Clients can complete up to 22 learning activities related to career planning and job search. The program delivers consistent service in rural and urban areas of the province, and will increase the number of clients served.

3.2.2.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

Compared to the previous fiscal year, the total number of clients served in Newfoundland and Labrador during FY1819 decreased from 12,867 to 9,753, a 24.2% year-over-year decline. The number of active claimants (-1,674; -17.8%), former claimants (-999; -42.2%) and non-insured clients (-565; -51.0%) dropped.

The new client group, Premiums-Paid Eligible (PPE), totalled 124 of all clients served by the province, and represented 1.3% of all clients. With respect to the shares of the 3 other client groups, active claimants (79.1%) increased by 6.1 percentage points, while former claimants (14.1%) and non-insured clients (5.6%) fell by 4.3 and 3.0 percentage points respectively. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

The total number of EBSM-similar interventions in Newfoundland and Labrador dropped to 20,933 (‑21.5%) in FY1819, with the shares of Employment Benefits and Support Measures representing 34.6% and 65.4%, of all EBSM-similar interventions. A total of 3,055 (+9.3%) insured clients returned to employment after participating in an EBSM-similar program. Unpaid EI benefits decreased from $17.47 million to $16.16 million, representing a 7.5% year-over-year drop. EBSM total expenditures advanced by 4.0% to $134.0 million, including $7.8 million from the province's share of the additional $225.0 million LMDA investment announced in Budget 2017, as well as funding measures provided to support workers in seasonal industries ($1.6 million), and those affected by trade disputes in the steel and aluminum industries ($500,000).

The Impacted Fish Plant Worker Program is an example. The targeted program is focused on creating short-term employment for workers from fish plants deemed impacted by the downturn in the fishing sector. The Fish Plant Worker Program is administered by Municipal Affairs and Environment (MAE) as impacted fish plants are identified by the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources (FLR).Once a fish plant is identified by FLR, MAE will make contact with the plant to obtain a plant worker list, as well as, reach out to the community in which the plant is located to secure a sponsor. If another sponsor is needed to accommodate the workers of the impacted plant, then MAE will reach out again and pursue projects in other communities tied to those impacted workers.

Under the Impacted Fish Plant Worker Program, workers can work 420 hours less any insurable hours they have already accumulated in the current year.

Newfoundland and Labrador also supports directly or indirectly impacted steel and aluminum workers through the provision of similar types of supports.

One such example was the Labour Market Partnership with NewCo Metals aimed to address the human resource planning needs of the company. A company was hired to conduct onsite training at the Newco's newly constructed processing facility at Foxtrap. There were 3 main components within Newco's training plan. The first component was provided by Wendt Industries, suppliers of the shredder and the downstream ancillary equipment. This highly specialized equipment enables the secondary processing of metal products, the first and only of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Chart 4 – Text version

Client type	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active claimants	12,325	13,466	11,215	10,027	9,124	8,831	8,850	8,941	9,308	9,390	7,716
Former claimants	2,204	3,114	2,748	2,405	1,992	1,928	2,513	2,095	1,812	2,370	1,371
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	124
Non-insured clients	2,561	2,302	2,171	2,031	2,046	1,980	1,126	1,297	1,232	1,107	542

Chart 5 – Text version

Client age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	3,927	4,061	3,541	3,055	2,846	2,325	1,627	1,700	1,545	1,547	1,466
Core-age (25 to 54)	9,970	10,957	9,154	8,066	6,942	7,699	3,814	4,021	4,216	4,204	3,840
Older workers (55+)	1,116	1,341	1,178	1,124	1,145	376	665	676	769	804	832

Chart 6 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	7,995	6,526	6,857	6,335	6,114	5,918	3,298	3,306	3,696	2,795	3,055
Active claimants served	12,325	13,466	11,215	10,027	9,124	8,831	8,850	8,941	9,308	9,390	7,716
Total clients served	17,090	18,882	16,134	14,463	13,162	12,739	12,489	12,333	12,352	12,867	9,753
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$26,83	$32,94	$31,20	$26,71	$30,42	$25,69	$25,35	$22,25	$23,23	$17,47	$16,16

3.2.2.3 Employment benefits

The total number of Employment benefit interventions in Newfoundland and Labrador dropped from 8,037 to 7,246 in FY1819, representing a 9.8% year-over-year decline. With the exception of JCP (+75; +5.7%), all other benefit types dropped: TWS (-18; -2.2%), SE (-19; -6.6%), SD-R (-364; -10.1%) and SD-A (-465; -23.1%). Total expenditures towards Employment Benefits ($113.3 million) remained relatively stable (+0.9%).

3.2.2.4 Support measures: EAS

After 4 consecutive years of growth, EAS interventions in Newfoundland and Labrador dropped by 26.5% to 13,687. All EAS types contributed to this decline: Employment services (-3,311; -39.4%), group services (-44; -1.2%) and individual counselling (-1,585; -24.1%). Total EAS expenditures advanced by 47.2% to $10.1 million.

3.2.2.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

In FY1819, Newfoundland and Labrador's total funding for LMP and R&I reached $10.6 million (+8.8%). While funding towards LMP ($7.4 million) increased by 66.1%, R&I funding ($3.1 million) declined by 40.3%.

Prince Edward Island: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 6,369

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
4,774	1,595

Total interventions: 10,363

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	3,4753,946	5.6%
Support Measures: EAS	6,888	4.5%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	33.5%	0.2
Support Measures: EAS	66.5%	0.2

Total allocation: $27.8 million¹

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$21.3	13.7%
Support Measures: EAS	$4.7	9.2%
LMP and R&I	$1.7	0.6%
Total Expenditures2	$27.7	8.3%

¹ Prince Edward Island invested $75,240 of its total allocation towards administration costs, representing almost 3.5% of the Budget 2017 additional funding the Province received in FY1819.
² Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$7.13	$6.66	6.5%

Prince Edward Island enjoyed favourable labour market conditions in FY1819. Employment grew by 1,800 (+2.4%) year-over-year, entirely in full-time positions, to reach 76,100, marking a new high for the province. Employment in full-time positions increased by 3.9%, from 62,000 to 64,400, while employment in part-time positions decreased by 5.3%, from 12,300 to 11,600. The unemployment rate declined from 9.9% in FY1718 to 9.3% in FY1819, the lowest rate since comparable data became available in FY7677. Employment growth was the strongest in the goods-producing sector (+1,400; +7.6%), with gains in all industries, led by growth in agriculture (+700; +19.6%) and construction (+300; +5.3%). Employment in the services-producing sector advanced by 400 positions on a net basis (+0.7%), with as many industries expanding as those contracting. A notable gain was in accommodation and food services (+600; +10.7%).

Investments in labour market programs were aimed at supporting continued economic growth and prosperity in Prince Edward Island. This was achieved by ensuring that these programs continued to address labour market demand challenges and meet the needs of job seekers. The province's investment priorities for FY1819 included:

• assisting Islanders in developing the necessary skills to prepare for, find and keep employment
• continuing support for persons with disabilities to gain and maintain meaningful employment
• providing employers with an access to a skilled and diverse workforce, and
• ensuring that communities in Prince Edward Island are able to respond effectively to their own labour market opportunities and challenges

3.2.3.1 Managing for results

Prince Edward Island had a unique advantage when it came to understanding the needs and expectations of its stakeholders. Because of its small geographic size, Prince Edward Island was able to remain connected with industry, sector councils, employers and job seekers. This allowed the province to respond quickly to labour force changes.

To learn more about labour market issues and opportunities that employers across the province were facing, the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning consulted directly with key stakeholders; including sector councils and industry associations, Indigenous and Francophone communities, employment assistance providers, chambers of commerce and post-secondary institutions, and various non-profit organizations.

This consultation process provided a forum for partners to discuss labour market issues important to them and to job seekers. The collaborative effort ensured programs and services were responsive, timely, relevant, and aligned with the labour force needs of Prince Edward Island's key economic sectors.

Across the province employers, industry associations, and sector councils confirmed that a shortage of workers was one of the main areas of concern. Prince Edward Island's traditional sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, seafood processing, aquaculture, and tourism identified the lack of reliable and available labour was affecting their ability to expand their industries. Many of these industries were located in rural areas and demographic changes, such as a declining population and an aging workforce, depleted the labour supply. In response, the province continued to work closely with these sectors to attract local workers, through a variety of recruitment initiatives, with a focus on underrepresented groups such as newcomers, social assistance recipients, and Indigenous participants.

Newer sectors such as biotechnology, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and information technology indicated challenges in accessing a skilled workforce. In this context, the province continued to invest in skills development training, by providing financial assistance to unemployed Islanders to complete training programs, to gain the skills and education necessary to find and maintain long-term sustainable employment.

3.2.3.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

In FY1819, Prince Edward Island served 6,369 clients, a rise of 4.0% year-over-year, and the fourth consecutive year of annual growth. This growth was attributed to an increase in the number of active claimants (+137; +3.9%), combined with the 438 clients served under the new PPE category. The number of non-insured clients (-257; -13.9%) and former claimants (‑72; ‑9.2%) declined compared to FY1718. The share of active claimants remained unchanged in FY1819, at 56.9% of all clients served. The proportions of former claimants (11.2%) and non-insured clients (25.0%) declined by 1.6 and 5.2 percentage points respectively. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category, which accounted for 6.9% of all clients served. In prior years, those clients could have been classified in the non-insured category.

For a fifth consecutive year, the number of EBSM-similar interventions in Prince Edward Island grew, reaching 10,363 in FY1819 (+4.8%). A total of 2,470 (+12.2%) insured clients returned to employment after participating in an EBSM-similar intervention. Unpaid EI benefits decreased from $7.13 million to $6.66 million, a 6.5% decline year-over-year. EBSM total expenditures reached $27.7 million (+8.3%). In addition to the province's share of the ongoing 1.95 billion dollars in LMDA program funding ($24.1 million), expenditures included its share of the additional $225.0 million envelope announced in Budget 2017 ($2.1 million). Expenditures also included the additional targeted funding provided to support workers in seasonal industries ($500,000), as well as those affected by the trade disputes in the forest sector ($500,000), and the steel and aluminum industries ($500,000).

Investments in targeted funding supported workers directly and indirectly affected by the lumber and steel-aluminum trade disputes to transition to sustainable employment through wage subsidies and training. In addition, the province received an allocation of $525,000 to support workers impacted by the seasonal nature of employment in a number of PEI's key sectors.

Chart 7 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	3,035	2,740	2,882	2,921	3,032	2,963	2,709	2,876	2,798	3,487	3,624
Former clients	512	487	572	574	708	703	621	657	709	784	712
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	438
Non-insured clients	1,072	885	1,071	1,340	1,316	1,285	1,470	1,681	1,893	1,852	1,595

Chart 8 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	1,060	950	1,124	1,202	1,265	1,259	1,276	1,456	1,542	2,309	2,488
Core-age (25 to 54)	2,784	2,504	2,705	2,937	3,023	2,920	2,776	2,954	3,137	3,072	2,943
Older workers (55+)	323	275	312	364	446	463	438	508	458	499	507

Chart 9 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	2,186	1,839	2,159	2,034	1,939	2,194	1,934	1,997	2,081	2,202	2,470
Active claimants served	3,035	2,740	2,882	2,921	3,032	2,963	2,709	2,876	2,798	3,487	3,624
Total clients served	4,619	4,112	4,525	4,835	5,056	4,951	4,800	5,214	5,400	6,123	6,369
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$7,69	$8,92	$9,07	$8,16	$7,53	$7,19	$6,52	$6,99	$7,14	$7,13	$6,66

Table 7 - Prince Edward Island: EBSM-similar programming, FY1819

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

3.2.3.3 Employment benefits

In FY1819, Prince Edward Island delivered 3,475 Employment Benefit interventions, a 5.6% increase over FY1718. While SD-R (+275; +13.0%), SD-A (+38; +14.2%) and SE (+5; +3.4%) increased, TWS (-134; - 19.3%) and JCP (-1; -1.7%) decreased. The significant rise in SD-R interventions since FY1718 may be attributed to the implementation of the Career Connect Program. This program provides unemployed individuals, who qualified for benefits, an opportunity to continue receiving benefits while attending full-time, post-secondary training within Canada, for the duration of their claim. Expenditures on Employment Benefits increased from $18.8 million to $21.3 million, a 13.7% rise over FY1718.

3.2.3.4 Support measures: EAS

The province delivered 6,888 EAS interventions in FY1819, an increase of 296 (+4.5%) over the previous fiscal year. The number of individual counselling interventions in Prince Edward Island sharply increased (+1,314; +122.6%), while the number of employment services interventions decreased significantly (- 1,018; -18.4%). Expenditures on EAS decreased by $500,000 (-9.2%) to $4.7 million.

3.2.3.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

Expenditures on LMP ($1.7 million) remained relatively stable in FY1819 compared to FY1718 (+0.6%). There were no reported expenditures under R&I in FY1819.

Nova Scotia: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 15,448

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
12,408	3,040

Total interventions: 27,368

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	7,136	72.5%
Support Measures: EAS	20,232	24.1%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	26.1%	12.7
Support Measures: EAS	73.9%	12.7

Total allocation: $87.6 million¹

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$48.3	5.8%
Support Measures: EAS	$33.4	15.3%
LMP and R&I	$5.0	113.5%
Total Expenditures2	$86.7	5.0%

¹ Nova Scotia invested $833,951.50 of its total allocation towards administration costs, representing 9.7% of the Budget 2017 additional funding the Province received in FY1819.
² Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$23.91	$26.43	10.5%

In contrast to the modest economic growth, labour market conditions in the province improved markedly in FY1819. The employment growth of 8,500 (+1.9%), entirely realized in full-time positions, was Nova Scotia's highest annual net gain since FY0405. The decline in the number of unemployed (‑5,100; -12.6%) pushed the unemployment rate down to 7.2%, the lowest since Statistics Canada began reporting these estimates in 1976. Employment growth was concentrated in services-producing industries (+7,000; +1.9%), led by gains in accommodation and food services (+4,400; +14.2%), as well as in wholesale and retail trade (+4,000; +5.2%). These were partially offset by declines in health care and social assistance (-1,500; -2.1%), as well as in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (‑1,200; ‑5.2%). In the goods-producing sector (+1,500; +1.8%), employment growth was mainly supported by increases in construction (+1,200; +3.6%), and agriculture (+600; +13.3%).

Despite its employment growth, Nova Scotia still faces several labour market challenges moving forward. Shifts that occurred in traditionally dominant industries disproportionally impacted low-skilled workers, while Nova Scotians living outside the Halifax metropolitan area had fewer employment and education opportunities. Many young people had difficulty attaching to the labour market and filling the vacancies created by retirements. In response, the province addressed these challenges by ensuring its more vulnerable residents had the skills needed to successfully keep or gain employment. A skilled workforce will generate productivity gains that will mitigate the losses resulting from a declining workforce. Nova Scotia prioritized groups typically underrepresented in employment such as African Nova Scotians, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, persons in gender-non-traditional careers, and new immigrants to Canada. 

3.2.4.1 Managing for results

3.2.4.2   Clients, interventions and expenditures

Nova Scotia served 15,448 clients in FY1819, 438 (-2.8%) fewer than in FY1718. Significant declines in the number of non-insured clients (-1,297; -29.9%) and former claimants (-496; -20.7%) served were partially offset by an increase in the number of active claimants served (+314; +3.4%). Active claimant shares of the total number of clients increased as well. Active claimants (61.3%) advanced by 3.7 percentage points and recorded the highest share since FY0910, while the shares of former claimants (12.3%) and non-insured clients (19.7%) dropped by 2.8 and 7.6 percentage points, respectively. A large portion of the drop in uninsured clients may be attributed to the new PPE category, which consisted of 1,041 clients (6.7% of all clients) in FY1819. Under the previous eligibility rules, these clients would likely have been considered as non-insured clients.

The number of EBSM-similar interventions decreased by 3,423 to 27,368 in FY1819, a year-over-year drop of 11.1%. A total of 5,075 insured clients returned to work after participating in an EBSM-similar program, a decrease of 9.8% over the previous fiscal year. Unpaid EI benefits rose from $23.91 million in FY1718 to $26.43 million in FY1819. EBSM total expenditures reached $86.7 million (+5.0%). In addition to the province's share of the ongoing 1.95 billion dollars in LMDA program funding ($77.4 million), some expenditures were also drawn from the additional $225 million LMDA envelope announced in Budget 2017 ($8.6 million, of which $0.8 million was used towards administration costs). The province also invested the additional targeted funding made available to support workers in seasonal industries ($1.6 million).

Overall, efforts toward addressing labour seasonality in FY1819 included the following initiatives:

• the provincial government working closely with seasonal industries including tourism, fisheries, and agriculture in recent years to better support their need to address workforce challenges. Through recent workforce studies and available labour market information, it has been determined that the tourism, fisheries, and agriculture sectors all have workers who experience unique challenges due to the cyclical nature of their work. Ongoing work with these sector and discussions with Tourism Nova Scotia, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture have determined that training is a need
• through the LMDA-funded Sector Council Program, the Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Sector Council and the Nova Scotia Fisheries Human Resource Sector Council receive core funding to provide support to their respective sectors in the area of Human Resource recruitment, attraction, retention, and training
• the Federation of Agriculture has also been working closely with the province in seeking support with their current workforce-related issues and they are currently preparing to submit their application under the Sector Council Program in FY1920
• the LMDA's targeted funding will allow for the provision of skills training to those most in need in these sectors and allow them to increase their employability skills, essential skills, and technical skills

Chart 10 – Text version

Client type	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	10,348	12,313	11,437	10,250	10,080	9,313	9,360	9,575	9,651	9,152	9,466
Former clients	2,526	3,218	3,407	3,089	3,399	2,779	2,202	2,134	2,141	2,397	1,901
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	1,041
Non-insured clients	4 101	4 155	4 429	4 247	4 410	4 545	4 397	4 620	4 717	4 337	3 040

Chart 11 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	3,356	3,720	3,614	3,281	3,059	2,963	2,618	2,590	2,422	2,288	3,506
Core-age (25 to 54)	10,492	12,536	12,134	11,154	10,386	9,848	8,667	8,792	8,991	8,699	8,145
Older workers (55+)	1,105	1,405	1,446	1,388	1,436	1,548	1,401	1,589	1,735	1,855	1,618

Chart 12 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	6,100	5,908	6,942	6,734	5,259	5,680	5,608	5,100	5,153	5,624	5,075
Active claimants served	10,348	12,313	11,437	10,250	10,080	9,313	9,360	9,575	9,651	9,152	9,466
Total clients served	16,975	19,686	19,273	17,586	17,889	16,637	15,959	16,329	16,509	15,886	15,448
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$24,71	$30,09	$33,28	$25,38	$25,75	$28,60	$28,00	$23,39	$24,02	$23,91	$26,43

Table 8 - Nova Scotia: EBSM-similar programming, FY1819

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

3.2.4.3 Employment benefits

Nova Scotia delivered 7,136 Employment Benefit interventions in FY1819, 72.5% higher than in FY1718, the highest number in over a decade. All benefit types increased: SD-R (+2,370; +207.9%), JCP (+26; +24.3%), TWS (+119; +14.7%), SE (+3; +0.5%) and SD-A (+480; +31.4%). Expenditures on Employment Benefit interventions declined by almost $3.0 million (-5.8%) year-over-year, to $48.3 million in FY1819.

The increase in Employment Benefit interventions, particularly in Skills Development, may be attributed to 2 factors. 

• For several years prior to FY1819, feepayer participants were not included in the provincial data exchange. By including feepayers as LMDA participants, the SD-Regular count increased by approximately 2,100 in FY1819
• In September 2018, the Canada - Nova Scotia accountability data exchange process was overhauled, and a new XML data format was implemented. This appears to have led to some accounting discrepancies and work is still underway to identify the root causes

3.2.4.4 Support measures: EAS

In FY1819, Nova Scotia delivered 20,232 EAS interventions, a 24.1% decrease over FY1718. All 3 EAS types dropped: group services (-874; -52.0%), individual counselling (-406; -18.0%) and employment service (-5,141; -22.6%). Overall expenditures on EAS increased by $4.4 million year-over-year, to $33.4 million in FY1819.

3.2.4.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

Expenditures on LMP more than doubled in FY1819 ($4.7 million) compared to FY1718 ($2.0 million), while funding of R&I initiatives declined by 23.4% year-over-year, to $0.3 million in FY1819.

New Brunswick: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 21,527

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
13,977	7,550

Total interventions: 41,098

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	12,764	9.2%
Support Measures: EAS	28,334	13.1%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	31.1%	4.7
Support Measures: EAS	68.9%	4.7

Total allocation: $98.2 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$78.1	5.1%
Support Measures: EAS	$7.7	27.4%
LMP and R&I	$12.4	29.2%
Total Expenditures1	$98.2	3.9%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$29.14	$25.00	14.2%

Labour market conditions in New Brunswick were relatively steady in FY1819, compared to the previous year. Employment grew slightly (+1,700; +0.5%) at about the same rate as the labour force and working-age population, leaving the participation and employment rates unchanged from the previous year, at 61.4% and 56.5% respectively. The province's unemployment rate edged down from 8.0% to 7.9%, the lowest in a decade. Employment growth was entirely realized in the services-producing sector (+2,000; +0.7%), while employment in the goods-producing sector declined slightly (‑300; -0.4%). On the services-producing side, gains in public administration (+2,100; +9.0%), information, culture and recreation (+1,700; +15.8%), as well as in transportation and warehousing (+1,000; +5.8%), were partially offset by losses in wholesale and retail trade (-3,000; -5.3%), as well as in accommodation and food services (-700; -3.0%). A net increase of 2,800 jobs (+21.2%) in the natural resources industries (comprising agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas) were more than offset by losses in construction (-1,600; -6.5%) and manufacturing (-1,400; -4.2%) in the goods-producing sector. 

New Brunswick's economy and labour force continued to face on going demographic challenges such as slow population growth, an aging population and out-migration of youth and skilled workers. The province also continued to experience a high unemployment rate relative to the rest of Canada. Although relatively poor economic and workforce growth is expected over the short-term, high replacement demand stemming primarily from retirements is resulting in a significant number of job vacancies to fill. It is therefore important for the province to continue to attract, retain and educate a highly skilled workforce. To ensure New Brunswick is responsive to these labour market challenges and opportunities, the province continued to:

• collaborate with employers and workers to respond and support them in addressing their workforce and training needs
• promote and increase adult literacy, essential skills and continuous learning
• increase participation in post-secondary education
• improve access to and dissemination of relevant labour market information, and
• invest in innovative programs and services including workplace learning, on the job training and upskilling employees

3.2.5.1 Managing for results

3.2.5.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

In FY1819, New Brunswick served 21,527 clients, 1,301 (-5.7%) fewer than in FY1718. Aside from PPE clients, all other client type counts declined: active claimants (-915; -8.1%), non-insured clients (-860; - 10.2%) and former claimants (-853; -27.4%). The drop in the number of uninsured clients is mostly attributable to the new PPE category, whose 1,327 clients in FY1819 likely counted towards non-insured clients under previous eligibility rules. As for the shares of the total number of clients served, all client types declined as a result of lower volumes and the new PPE category, which accounted for 6.2% of all clients. Between FY1718 and FY1819, the proportions of active claimants (48.3%), non-insured (35.1%), and former claimants (10.5%) dropped by 1.3, 1.8 and 3.1 percentage points, respectively.

New Brunswick delivered 41,098 EBSM-similar interventions in FY1819, a decline of 7.2% (- 3,209) over the previous year. Following the same trend, the number of insured clients who returned to work after participating in an EBSM-similar intervention declined 8.7% from 8,800 in FY1718, to 8,031 in FY1819. Unpaid EI benefits amounted to $25.00 million in FY1819, down from $29.14 million in FY1718. Expenditures on EBSMs rose to $98.2 million (+$3.7 million, +3.9%) in FY1819. These expenditures include the province's shares of the ongoing $1.95 billion LMDA program funding ($89.2 million) and the $225.0 million envelope in additional funding announced in Budget 2017 ($9.0 million).

In addition to these expenditures, $3.7 million in additional targeted funding was made available to support workers in seasonal industries and workers affected by trade disputes in the steel and aluminum industries, and the forest sector, which the province did not access.

Chart 13 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	11,315	13,895	12,076	10,459	9,365	9,070	8,596	10,411	11,386	11,302	10,387
Former clients	2,303	3,064	2,741	2,365	2,334	2,592	2,393	2,885	2,859	3,116	2,263
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	1,327
Non-insured clients	3,512	5,679	5,001	4,217	3,844	4,876	4,838	6,365	8,347	8,410	7,550

Chart 14 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	3,361	6,321	5,537	4,837	4,709	5,287	5,466	7,383	10,132	10,961	10,584
Core-age (25 to 54)	9,994	12,130	10,323	8,429	8,558	9,297	8,870	10,583	10,781	10,314	8,029
Older workers (55+)	1,120	1,432	1,271	1,086	1,199	1,257	1,116	1,427	1,475	1,304	1,094

Chart 15 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	9,422	9,367	10,193	9,017	8,015	7,927	7,471	8,179	8,300	8,800	8,031
Active claimants served	11,315	13,895	12,076	10,459	9,365	9,070	8,596	10,411	11,386	11,302	10,387
Total clients served	17,130	22,638	19,818	17,041	15,543	16,538	15,827	19,661	22,592	22,828	21,527
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$33,95	$43,73	$41,33	$30,85	$27,65	$28,67	$27,25	$31,02	$30,01	$29,14	$25,00

3.2.5.3 Employment benefits

The province delivered 12,764 Employment Benefit interventions in FY1819, 9.2% (+1,072) more than in FY1718 and the highest since FY0910. Increases in TWS (+961; +41.9%) and SD-R (+331; +4.8%) were partially offset by declines in SE (-67; -21.3%), and SD-A (-153; -6.9%). Expenditures on Employment Benefits increased by 5.1% (+$3.8 million) in FY1819, for a total of $78.1 million.

3.2.5.4 Support measures: EAS

New Brunswick delivered fewer EAS interventions in FY1819 compared to FY1718, for a total of 28,334 (‑4,281; -13.1%). Both intervention types declined year-over-year: individual counselling decreased by 15.1% (-3,450) while employment services dropped by 8.5% (- 831). The province spent $7.7 million on EAS interventions in FY1819, a 27.4% (-$2.9 million) decline compared to the previous year. This shift was due to funding some EAS contracts through the Workforce Development Agreement that were previously funded under the LMDA.

3.2.5.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

Expenditures on LMP totalled $12.1 million in FY1819, the highest the province spent on this measure, while funding of R&I initiatives was cut by half in FY1819, dropping to $300,000 from $600,000 in FY1718.

Quebec: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 214,742

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
156,514	58,228

Total interventions: 270,583

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	33,210	7.3%
Support Measures: EAS	237,373	13.6%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	12.3%	2.2
Support Measures: EAS	87.7%	2.2

Total allocation: $598.6 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$335.0	3.5%
Support Measures: EAS	$146.1	1.8%
LMP and R&I	$117.4	6.3%
Total Expenditures1	$598.6	2.7%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$327.62	$293.92	10.3%

Compared with the previous fiscal year, Quebec's labour force remained relatively stable at 4,518,500 (+0.3%). Overall, employment (+0.7%) increased somewhat from 4,242,500 to 4,273,000, while the unemployment rate (5.4%) fell 0.4 percentage points.

From one year to the next, employment levels remained relatively stable in the goods-producing sector (+2,600; +0.3%) with net gains in forestry, fishing and mining (+4,200; 11.4%), construction (+3,300; +1.3%) and utilities (+3,100; 12.5%). However, agriculture (-1,100; -1.9%) and manufacturing (-6,800; -1.4%) slowed somewhat. In the service sector, employment increased (+27,900; +0.8%), with growth in transportation and warehousing (+7,900; +3.7%), professional, scientific and technical services (+4,400; +1.3%), business, building and other support services (+11,400; +6.2%), educational services (+5,500; +1.9%) and health care and social assistance (+12,500; +2.1%). This increase was partially offset by net losses in information, culture and recreation (-9,400; -5.1%) and accommodation and food services (-3,800; -1.4%).

As in previous fiscal years, Quebec faced a labour shortage and challenges related to matching training, skills, and jobs in FY1819. This is the result of 2 factors: the demographic decline in the population aged 15 to 64 and the increase in the number of jobs. Consequently, employers will have difficulty recruiting qualified candidates for available positions in the short term.

To resolve this situation, employers are being asked to adapt their human resources processes with the goal of leveraging the employment potential of the entire available workforce to the fullest extent possible to meet the needs of the labour market. They may moderate their recruitment criteria, improve staff training, emphasize diversity, improve workforce retention or adapt their working conditions, among other things.

Furthermore, in order to maintain the competitiveness of its businesses, Quebec will continue to invest in the training of its workforce to meet current and future labour market needs.

For FY1819, Quebec placed particular emphasis on the integration and participation of people from groups that are under-represented in the labour market:

• people with low skills
• persons with disabilities
• people aged 55 and over
• recent immigrants
• Indigenous persons
• youth, and
• people in the justice system

In order to effectively address the numerous challenges in the labour market, Quebec focused its interventions on 5 strategic orientations during FY1819:

• expand knowledge of qualitative and quantitative labour market imbalances
• accelerate employment integration for people ready to enter the labour market, in particular through support for skills development
• encourage the hiring of members of groups underrepresented in the labour market and clients of social assistance programs, in particular through support for skills development
• contribute to structuring and adapting human resources management in companies, encouraging them to improve productivity, and
• adapt service delivery, in collaboration with all partners, to the evolving context of intervention and to the needs of individuals and businesses.

These tools will enable Quebec to improve the employment rate by hiring people who are unemployed and improving companies' productivity and ability to adapt.

In January 2019, the Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS) launched “La Grande corvée” initiative to support businesses experiencing difficulties with filling positions. Quebec plans to support an increasing number of businesses as they face new challenges related to labour shortages. As of March 31, 2019, nearly 4,800 businesses had been proactively contacted by public employment services. Systematic canvassing enabled Quebec to increase the number of businesses that were assisted for the first time during FY1819.

3.2.6.1 Partnership and Managing for Results

To ensure that it can respond adequately and quickly to the needs of the labour market, Quebec has a partnership structure that is unique in Canada. In terms of planning, the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT), which brings together employer and union representatives from the education sector and community organizations, works with the MTESS to guide public employment services so that they meet the needs expressed by all partners. This collaboration involves the joint development of an annual action plan for labour and employment. 

The management and delivery of public employment services are planned in a decentralized manner to better adapt to the needs of regional labour markets and local clienteles. Thus, while complying with the major orientations of Quebec's overall action plan, the regional offices of Services Québec are autonomous in their use of the measures in the range of employment services, the implementation of strategies and the management of their intervention budget. As a result, their use may differ from one region to another, depending on the priorities and characteristics of the territory.

Throughout Quebec, public employment services interventions are delivered according to a results-based management approach. Quebec's overall action plan provides annual targets for targeted results indicators, and regional offices specify their contribution in their regional action plan for employment and labour. This management method makes it possible to deliver effective interventions and assess concrete results, particularly with respect to the return to employment of persons who have benefited from public employment services.

Through the MTESS, Quebec continues to rely on its targeting, referral, and feedback (TRF) system, which enables it to undertake proactive intervention with Employment Insurance applicants. Set up jointly with the federal government and used since 1999, the TRF system has proven its effectiveness and is currently being implemented in other parts of Canada.

Employment interventions are delivered in partnership with organizations specializing in employability development that have signed service agreements with the regional offices of Services Québec and economic development organizations. This complements the activities of public employment services and offers businesses and the public a variety of services based on their needs. The agreements with service provider partners include results-based objectives. These organizations are also instrumental in leading public employment services to innovate their service delivery.

3.2.6.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

During FY1819, Quebec served a total of 214,742 clients, a decrease of 10.7% year over year. These decreases, which affected the 3 main types of clients, are mainly explained by the strength of the Quebec labour market in recent years, which has experienced a historically low unemployment rate. For a third consecutive year, the number of active clients declined to 116,261 (-8.9%) in FY1819. Former claimants (23,005) and non-insured clients (58,228) fell by 30.2% and 27.0% respectively. For the first time, Quebec reported the number of “clients with eligibility based on contributions paid” (new PPE category) at 17,248. In terms of the volume of client types in relation to the total number of clients served, the proportion of active clients (54.1%) increased by 1.0 percentage point compared to the previous year. The proportion of former claimants (10.7%) and non-insured clients (27.1%) declined by 3.0 and 6.1 percentage points respectively, year over year. The share of clients with eligibility based on contributions paid was 8.0%. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

The total number of interventions in FY1819, 270,583, decreased by 11.5% compared to FY1718. Although it was the most used of all EBSM interventions, the proportion of Employment Assistance Services (EAS) (87.7%) declined by 2.2 percentage points, while the proportion of Employment Benefits was 12.3% (+2.2 percentage points). 

A total of 74,535 clients (+8.3%) found employment after participating in a program similar to EBSM. This was the sixth consecutive year that this number has increased. Unpaid benefits from the EI Operating Account declined 10.3% to $293.92 million. In total, EBSM expenditures of $598.6 million were 2.7% higher than the previous fiscal year.^{Footnote 14}  This includes $29.2 million additional targeted funding in Quebec to support workers in seasonal industries ($8.0 million), as well as those affected by tariffs in the softwood lumber ($14.7 million) and steel and aluminum ($6.6 million) sectors.

In order to quickly provide support to laid-off seasonal workers, Quebec and the Federal Government signed the Canada-Quebec Agreement in Support of Seasonal Workers in Quebec in May 2018. A pilot project providing workers with training employed in a company with seasonal activities or are unemployed, and enhanced income support for those who are unemployed was implemented in the spring of 2018. Enhanced funding is also provided to seasonal businesses that train their workers, with a 100% rate of reimbursement of training expenses and salaries to businesses.

Chart 16 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	127,027	138,274	130,782	121,089	119,771	147,396	140,026	146,359	138,682	127,614	116,261
Former clients	23,893	24,970	23,288	25,099	25,081	26,779	24,986	26,946	26,945	32,965	23,005
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	17,248
Non-insured clients	37,408	42,167	37,859	47,049	54,519	63,162	64,769	79,814	84,716	79,764	58,228

Chart 17 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	24,367	26,342	22,385	25,408	28,285	31,409	32,259	45,785	45,401	41,586	36,203
Core-age (25 to 54)	111,260	119,448	102,720	109,185	117,427	133,491	134,939	146,872	150,680	145,805	129,383
Older workers (55+)	14,953	16,728	16,279	18,669	20,752	26,454	30,334	32,370	35,539	36,706	37,886

Chart 18 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	51,383	53,081	54,239	52,872	49,757	55,043	59,949	64,697	66,502	68,794	74,535
Active claimants served	127,027	138,274	130,782	121,089	119,771	147,396	140,026	146,359	138,682	127,614	116,261
Total clients served	188,328	205,411	191,929	193,237	199,371	237,337	229,781	253,119	250,343	240,343	214,742
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$188,26	$285,80	$307,80	$219,42	$230,49	$252,38	$290,84	$332,31	$334,28	$327,62	$293,92

3.2.6.3 Employment benefits

In FY1819, Quebec delivered a total of 33,210 Employment Benefit interventions (+7.3%). All types of Employment Benefits contributed to this expansion: Skills Development-Regular (SD-R) (23,376), Targeted Wage Subsidies (TWS) (8,196), and Self-Employment (SE) (1,638) increased by 2.1%, 27.0% and 2.8%, respectively. In total, Quebec spent $335.0 million (+3.5%) on Employment Benefits.

For FY1819, additional LMDA funding of $29.2 million was granted to improve support for the softwood lumber, steel and aluminum industries as well as seasonal businesses. Quebec was able to mobilize its partners to invest all of this money and thus consolidate the economic development of its regions as a proactive step against the challenges in these sectors, some of which have been targeted by countervailing duties imposed by the US. Funding for workforce training initiatives ($4.9 million) enabled workers to acquire relevant skills and meet the ever-evolving needs of their employer. Finally, by encouraging employers to hire people at risk of long-term unemployment, the investment in the wage subsidy ($4.0 million) helped stimulate employment and provide work experience.

3.2.6.4 Support measures: employment assistance services (EAS)

For a second consecutive year, the total number of EAS interventions decreased, reaching 237,373 (- 13.6%) in FY1819. All EAS intervention-types decreased. Group services (13,929), individual counselling (38,836) and employment services (184,608) dropped by 12.9% (-2,056), 46.2% (-33,404) and 1.0% (- 1,921), respectively. EAS expenditures, which totalled $146.1 million, decreased by 1.8%.

3.2.6.5 Other support measures: LMPs and R&I

Compared to FY1718, Quebec spent a total of $117.4 million on LMPs and R&I, an increase of 6.3%. In contrast to LMPs, where total costs ($112.9 million) jumped 9.8% year over year, R&I expenditures ($4.5 million) fell 40.2%. This decrease is due to Quebec's decision to fund its R&I initiatives from other sources of revenue. Quebec's total investment in R&I amounted to $12.8 million.

Ontario: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 205,706

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
105,075	100,631

Total interventions: 232,078

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	31,691	42.4%
Support Measures: EAS	200,387	4.3%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	13.7%	3.3
Support Measures: EAS	86.3%	3.3

Total allocation: $662.0 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$179.4	22.2%
Support Measures: EAS	$323.0	0.5%
LMP and R&I	$159.6	11.0%
Total Expenditures1	$662.0	7.6%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$233.15	$265.22	13.8%

Employment in Ontario grew (+133,200; +1.9%) at the same rate as the working-age population, leaving the employment rate unchanged compared to that of the previous year, at 61.0%. The province's unemployment rate edged down to 5.7% from 5.8% a year earlier, the lowest since FY8990. In contrast to FY1718, employment growth in FY1819 was entirely realized in full-time employment (+136,900; +2.4%) and was more concentrated in the services-producing sector (+121,300; +2.1%). Growth in that sector was led by gains in transportation and warehousing (+39,200; +11.2%) and in educational services (+32,300; +6.5%). In the goods-producing sector (+11,900; +0.8%), losses in manufacturing (-11,900; - 1.5%) were more than offset by gains in construction (+11,400; +2.2%) and utilities (+9,700; +20.3%).

Like other jurisdictions, Ontario faces challenges related to a changing global economy and the aging of its population. These include increased demand for specialized skills, workplace transformation from automation and new technologies, rise in non-standard forms of employment and a slowing labour force growth. Such challenges impact individuals entering the labour market as well as established workers, with youth, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and other vulnerable workers experiencing less favourable labour market outcomes than the rest of the labour force. Ontario engages with key stakeholders to build awareness and solicit feedback on the province's employment related challenges.

3.2.7.1 Managing for results

Ontario is currently implementing the Targeting, Referral and Feedback (TRF) system. In this context, Ontario, in partnership with the Government of Canada, will proactively engage EI applicants and assist them to return to employment more quickly. TRF connects new EI applicants to their local Employment Ontario service centres, where they can access employment information, services and supports, while matching their existing skills with local labour market needs.

The province continues to engage with stakeholders to inform the design, delivery and implementation of ongoing and new initiatives. Engagements in FY1819 included consultations with employment services and social assistance partners, and consultations focused on employer-led coalition's goals of hiring 40,000 not in employment, education or training (NEET) youth into meaningful employment, as well as engaging 60,000 NEET youth in education and training opportunities.

3.2.7.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

Ontario served 205,706 clients in FY1819, an increase of 13,037 (+6.8%) over FY1718. FY1819 marks the introduction of Premiums Paid Eligibility (PPE) clients, a new category of clients who may have been classified as non-insured clients in previous years. PPE clients in Ontario accounted for 12.3% (25,228) of all clients. All other client type proportions decreased: non-insured (100,631), active claimants (53,221) and former claimants (26,626) declined by 5.5%, 5.8% and 10.4%, respectively. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

The number of total EBSM-similar interventions delivered in Ontario rose for a fourth consecutive year, reaching 232,078 (+8.3%) in FY1819. After 6 consecutive years of growth, the share of EAS in relation to the total EBSM-similar interventions dropped by 3.3 percentage points to 86.3%. Returns to employment advanced from 39,678 to 47,400, a 19.5% year-over-year increase, and unpaid EI benefits totalled $265.22 million (+13.8%), compared to $233.15 million in FY1718. Ontario's total expenditures amounted to $662.0 million (+7.6%). This sum includes $71.7 million received by the province from the $225.0 million in additional LMDA funding announced in Budget 2017. The province also received additional targeted funding to support workers in seasonal industries ($3.5 million), as well as workers impacted by the trade disputes in the forest sector ($3.3 million) and steel and aluminium industries ($12.0 million).

Partnerships and opportunities were delivered through SkillsAdvance Ontario to enable laid off workers to train during plant shutdown periods, in response to the rotating/temporary plant shutdowns that were introduced by companies to deal with reduced business as a result of the of US imposed steel tariffs, skilled labour shortages, and a surge in imports from non-NAFTA countries. As well, projects created recruitment opportunities for individuals to participate in a focused sector based skills training program, including employer paid work placement, with the intent of long-term labour retention and growing the skilled trades.

Partnerships were established to deliver projects through SkillsAdvance Ontario to provide participants, job seekers and incumbent workers, in northwestern Ontario with essential and technical skills training in electrician, millwright, mechanical harvesting, heavy equipment operator, and wood processing, to meet in-demand occupations identified by employer partners.

Additional projects were developed and funded with industry and employment training partners, including the City of Toronto, Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Prince Edward Learning Centre and Loyalist College, to support workers in seasonal industries.

Chart 19 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	102,406	118,782	70,901	63,780	66,748	64,689	63,061	60,489	62,339	56,484	53,221
Former clients	19,278	21,693	28,703	22,074	20,707	20,145	19,734	18,611	24,796	29,702	26,626
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	25,228
Non-insured clients	37,923	27,682	92,788	46,170	66,703	74,533	71,278	82,458	103,402	106,483	100,631

Chart 20 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	15,839	15,380	14,227	21,203	27,407	31,648	30,738	33,271	37,909	42,131	52,061
Core-age (25 to 54)	110,172	116,697	72,003	82,505	95,367	96,636	91,792	95,902	116,420	114,077	124,276
Older workers (55+)	11,915	14,193	9,623	11,847	14,848	15,477	15,687	16,775	20,205	21,344	22,681

Chart 21 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	56,562	58,333	73,855	33,347	36,111	36,018	36,166	35,625	37,044	39,678	47,399
Active claimants served	102,406	118,782	70,901	63,780	66,748	64,689	63,061	60,489	62,339	56,484	53,221
Total clients served	159,607	168,157	192,392	132,024	154,158	159,367	154,073	161,558	190,537	192,669	205,706
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$264,44	$408,52	$315,75	$221,48	$227,71	$237,59	$240,22	$236,05	$262,66	$233,15	$265,22

3.2.7.3 Employment benefits

After a seventh consecutive year of decline, the number of Employment Benefit interventions delivered in Ontario grew in FY1819, by 42.4%, to 31,691. With the exception of JCP (-48; -29.8%), all other benefit types increased: TWS (+1,283; +62.9%), SD-R (+4,870; +103.7%) and SD-A (+3,332; +21.7%). For a third consecutive year, SE was not delivered in the province. For the first time since FY1011, expenditures towards Employment Benefits increased, amounting to $179.4 million (+22.2%).

3.2.7.4 Support measures: EAS

For a fourth consecutive year, EAS interventions in Ontario rose, reaching 200,387 (+4.3%) in FY1819. Individual counselling remained the sole delivered EAS type of intervention. The province spent a total of $323.0 million (-0.5%) on EAS.

3.2.7.5 Other support measures

In FY1819, total funding towards LMP and R&I amounted to $159.6 million, an 11.0% year-over-year increase. This represents a fifth consecutive year of growth. While expenditures on LMP totalled $90.8 million (+220.8%), increasing for a third consecutive year, R&I's funding decreased, after 6 consecutive years of grow, by 40.4%, to $68.8 million. The respective increase and decrease in LMP and R&I funding is in part the result of the reclassification of some LMDAs programs that had been previously classified under R&I, under LMP.

In FY1819, Ontario supported employer-sponsored training, by delivering the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) under the Labour Market Partnerships Support Measure (COJG was previously delivered under the R&I stream). This employer cost-shared program helps employers train their labour force and adapt to changing labour market needs. The majority (86%) of COJG participants in FY1819 were in “Tier 1” training, meaning the training will lead to a new or a better job with the sponsoring employer.

Manitoba: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 24,078

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
14,056	10,022

Total interventions: 60,909

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	6,866	10.3%
Support Measures: EAS	54,043	1.5%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	11.3%	0.8
Support Measures: EAS	88.7%	0.8

Total allocation: $49.7 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$32.7	13.6%
Support Measures: EAS	$10.1	3.2%
LMP and R&I	$7.0	11.2%
Total Expenditures1	$49.7	7.2%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$41.31	$42.17	2.1%

Following the same trend as its real GDP growth, Manitoba's labour market in FY1819 improved moderately compared to FY1617 and FY1718. Employment grew by 5,900 (+0.9%), mostly in full-time positions (+5,100; +1.0%). The unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 5.8%, as more people joined the labour force in search of work (+8,600; +1.3%). Employment growth in FY1819 was entirely realized in the services-producing sector (+7,200; +1.5%), led by gains in transportation and warehousing (+4,200; +11.4%), health care and social assistance (+2,500; +2.5%), as well as in public administration (+2,500; +7.7%). Notable declines were realized in wholesale and retail trade (‑3,400; ‑3.7%), as well as in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (-1,900; -5.2%). There was also a slight decline in the goods‑producing sector (-1,300; -0.8%). The increase in agriculture (+600; +2.5%) was more than offset by a drop in utilities (-1,500; -17.9%).

Given its labour market context, Manitoba used targeted and innovative approaches to engage those not participating in the labour force, increase the skills of the current and future workforce, improve outcomes for those who continue to face barriers to participation, and assist individuals to effectively transition to the workforce. During consultations, employers identified the need for workers across a broad range of skills sets.

3.2.8.1 Managing for results

Community stakeholders identified key labour market barriers and opportunities that informed annual planning priorities, and supported employment programming that met Manitoba's labour market needs. Manitoba undertook regular consultations with stakeholders to inform broader government strategies, initiatives, and program priorities. Consultations were not always specific to the LMDA, but supported the identification of issues, needs and opportunities that addressed the agreement over the coming years.

In FY1819, Manitoba delivered many programs and services to job seekers in urban, rural and northern communities. The province designed and delivered LMDA-funded programming in these locations by working with communities, employers, service providers, and educational institutions to identify local labour market needs, and collaboratively develop programs and services to address them.

3.2.8.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

In FY1819, Manitoba served 722 fewer clients than in FY1718 (-2.9%), for a total of 24,078. This was the fourth consecutive year during which the province served fewer clients. Aside from PPE clients, all other client types declined: non-insured clients (-2,257; -18.4%), former claimants (- 644; -17.3%), and active claimants (-339; -3.9%). The decline in the number of non-insured clients is mostly attributable to the introduction of the new PPE category, whose 2,518 clients in FY1819 would have counted towards non-insured clients under previous eligibility rules. As for their shares of the total number of clients served, all client types declined as a result of lower volumes and the new PPE category accounting for 10.5% of all clients. Between FY1718 and FY1819, the proportions of non-insured clients (41.6%), active claimants (35.1%), and former claimants (12.8%) dropped by 7.9, 0.3 and 2.2 percentage points, respectively.

In contrast to the reduced number of clients served, Manitoba delivered 1,439 (+2.4%) more interventions in FY1819 than in FY1718, for a total of 60,909 interventions. The number of insured clients who returned to work after participating in an EBSM-similar program totalled 4,470 in FY1819, almost unchanged (-0.8%) from FY1718. Unpaid EI benefits increased year-over-year, from $41.31 million in FY1718 to $42.17 million in FY1819, an increase of 2.1%. Manitoba's total expenditures on EBSMs increased by $3.3 million (+7.2%) to $49.7 million in FY1819. These expenditures comprised the province's shares of the ongoing $1.95 billion LMDA program funding ($43.0 million) and its share of the $225.0 million in additional funding announced in Budget 2017 ($6.8 million).

On top of these expenditures, $1.5 million was made available to the province under the additional targeted funding measures to support workers in seasonal industries and those affected by trade disputes in the steel and aluminum industries, and the forest sector, which the province did not access.

Chart 22 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	14,171	16,204	15,110	11,834	11,744	10,988	9,996	10,132	9,941	8,792	8,453
Former clients	3,129	3,496	3,875	3,775	3,844	3,579	3,672	3,292	3,011	3,729	3,085
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	2,518
Non-insured clients	11,180	12,546	14,153	13,704	13,369	13,540	15,174	14,056	12,963	12,279	10,022

Chart 23 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	5,377	5,899	6,219	5,320	5,491	5,264	5,632	5,217	4,851	4,541	4,454
Core-age (25 to 54)	17,101	19,760	20,562	18,122	17,206	16,519	16,828	15,885	14,901	14,314	14,634
Older workers (55+)	1,826	2,065	2,092	1,862	2,098	1,943	1,830	1,798	1,726	1,803	1,798

Chart 24 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	9,256	10,043	9,950	8,714	8,056	7,526	7,156	6,957	6,565	4,505	4,470
Active claimants served	14,171	16,204	15,110	11,834	11,744	10,988	9,996	10,132	9,941	8,792	8,453
Total clients served	28,480	32,246	33,138	29,313	28,957	28,107	28,842	27,480	25,915	24,800	24,078
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$46,00	$68,03	$63,38	$40,97	$43,51	$44,28	$43,09	$44,14	$46,59	$41,31	$42,17

3.2.8.3 Employment benefits

In FY1819, Manitoba delivered 6,866 Employment Benefit interventions, up by 10.3% (+640) over FY1718. Increases in SD-R (+537; +27.1%), SD-A (+96; +2.5%) and JCP (+62; +34.8%) were partially offset by declines in SE (-50; -37.6%) and TWS (-5; -13.9%). Expenditures on Employment Benefits increased by $3.9 million (+13.6%) in FY1819 over FY1718, reaching $32.7 million.

3.2.8.4 Support measures: EAS

The province also delivered more EAS interventions in FY1819 compared to the previous year, reaching 54,043 (+799; +1.5%). While employment services increased by 2.5% (+854), for a total of 34,994, individual counselling (19,049) remained stable (-0.3%; -55). Manitoba spent $10.1 million on EAS, an increase of 3.2% over FY1718.

3.2.8.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

Expenditures on R&I ($1.3 million) were $0.9 million lower (-40.1%) than in FY1718, while spending on LMP ($5.7 million) remained relatively unchanged over the same period.

Saskatchewan: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 25,207

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
22,680	2,527

Total interventions: 35,766

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	22,975	84.7%
Support Measures: EAS	12,791	12.5%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	64.2%	12.0
Support Measures: EAS	35.8%	12.0

Total allocation: $43.6 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$30.3	2.6%
Support Measures: EAS	$10.9	100.9%
LMP and R&I	$1.9	0.9%
Total Expenditures1	$43.0	12.1%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$50.38	$49.07	2.6%

Labour market conditions improved in Saskatchewan in FY1819 over the previous year. After slightly declining by 1,800 (-0.3%) in FY1718, employment increased by 5,000 (+0.9%) in FY1819, with the majority of the gains in full-time positions (+4,000; +0.9%).

Despite the strengthening in employment aggregates, the unemployment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point to 6.0%, due to an increase in the workforce size. Employment growth occurred mostly in the services-producing sector (+4,600; +1.1%), led by gains in health care, social assistance (+2,900; +3.9%), and educational services (+2,700; +6.7%). However, losses were recorded in wholesale and retail trade (-3,700; -4.1%), as well as in professional, scientific and technical services (- 2,500; -8.7%). Declines in construction (-1,200; -2.4%), forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas (-1,100; -4.6%) were more than offset by gains in the other industries, led by a net increase of 1,800 positions in agriculture (+5.1%) and the goods-producing sector (+400; +0.3%).

Saskatchewan took a balanced approach to labour market development to meet the immediate needs of employers and workers, while ensuring a future supply of labour equipped to support continued economic growth and competitiveness. Activities included supporting unemployed workers back to employment, developing sources of labour currently not engaged or under-utilized in the labour force, and supporting employers in training their existing workforce to adapt to current and future challenges. Under-represented groups targeted by programs and services include Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada (including refugees), youth, women and older workers.

3.2.9.1 Managing for results

Saskatchewan was committed to engaging stakeholders in planning, priority-setting, policy development, program design and service delivery. Saskatchewan's regionally-based labour market delivery system facilitated continuous stakeholder engagement. The Ministry of Immigration and Career Training (ICT) had offices in ten communities across the province.

For example, these offices were aware of regional layoffs and recruitment challenges. They understood the unique set of education and employment barriers that groups in their regions faced. They heard from community-based organizations; training institutions; employers; job seekers; and agencies representing youth, Indigenous peoples, and individuals who are currently in, or recently released from, custody. Together with stakeholders, ICT identified labour market needs that required focused approaches and/or greater program investments. As a result, ICT launched several new projects:

• new Targeted Initiatives for Older Workers, to increase the employability of older workers
• enhanced Career Bridging, to address the needs of under-represented persons in the labour force
• the Wicehtowak Workforce Development Program, designed to improve the employment rate of Indigenous groups who are currently under-represented and/or facing barriers in the Saskatchewan workforce, and
• the Training Voucher Pilot, to provide funding for unemployed individuals (from specific sectors that have been impacted by changing economic conditions), to attend training to build skills that are in demand in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has completed the technical setup for a new data exchange infrastructure, established catchment areas, and completed training for establishing targets to pilot the Targeting, Referral and Feedback (TRF) initiative. Saskatchewan is currently testing a target group, to establish the internal processes for receiving the referral files, engaging with clients and responding with feedback.

3.2.9.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

For a sixth consecutive year, Saskatchewan served a growing total number of clients, reaching 25,207 (+35.3%) in FY1819. While the number of active claimants (8,850) and non-insured clients (2,527) dropped by 6.3% and 49.8% respectively, that of former claimants (6,058) advanced by 45.8%. PPE clients, a new category, reached 7,772. As for their proportion relative to the total number of clients, active claimants (35.1%) and non-insured clients (10.0%) fell by 15.6 and 17.0 percentage points, respectively. The share of former claimants increased to 24.0% (+1.7 percentage point) and PPE clients accounted for 30.8% of all clients. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

In FY1819, Saskatchewan delivered a total number of 35,766 interventions, representing a fourth consecutive year of growth. Similar to FY1718, the share of EAS continued to drop, representing 35.8% of all EBSM-similar interventions in FY1819. The share of Employment Benefits grew from 52.2% in FY1718 to 64.2% in FY1819. A total of 5,148 individuals (+5.5% year-over-year) returned to employment after participating in an EBSM-similar program, and unpaid EI benefits declined from $50.38 million to $49.07 million, a 2.6% year-over-year decrease. Expenditures for EBSM-similar programming expanded from $38.4 million to $43.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 12.1%. This included $6.1 million received by the province in FY1819, as part of the $225.0 million in additional LMDA funding from Budget 2017. This also included the province's shares of the additional targeted funding to help workers in seasonal industries ($400,000), and to support workers affected by trade disputes in the forest sector ($500,000) and the steel and aluminium ($700,000) industries.

Chart 25 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	8,724	11,406	10,414	10,624	10,161	10,308	10,503	11,362	11,542	9,442	8,850
Former clients	5,773	2,663	2,471	3,268	2,788	2,687	2,565	2,667	2,742	4,156	6,058
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	7,772
Non-insured clients	351	640	577	870	748	798	813	799	1,040	5,035	2,527

Chart 26 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	913	1,530	1,287	1,329	1,058	946	968	1,124	1,085	3,044	7,902
Core-age (25 to 54)	4,113	6,987	5,816	6,664	5,835	5,574	5,743	6,755	6,890	8,758	15,957
Older workers (55+)	339	557	502	605	562	627	657	772	775	782	1,034

Chart 27 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	4,956	6,432	6,692	6,083	5,784	6,038	6,038	6,204	6,716	4,879	5,148
Active claimants served	8,724	11,406	10,414	10,624	10,161	10,308	10,503	11,362	11,542	9,442	8,850
Total clients served	14,848	14,709	13,462	14,762	13,697	13,793	13,881	14,828	15,324	18,633	25,207
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$42,80	$64,70	$64,15	$54,13	$55,56	$60,81	$61,60	$61,55	$74,73	$50,38	$49,07

3.2.9.3 Employment benefits

In Saskatchewan, Employment Benefit interventions increased significantly (+84.7%) year-over-year, to reach 22,975 in FY1819. This growth was largely due to SD-R (+8,821) and SD-A (+1,719), 126.7% and 31.8%, respectively. At the same time, SE (‑3) declined by 4.3%. The significant increase in the number of Skills Development interventions was attributed to the significant number of unemployed workers who lacked the skills needed for the jobs of today and the future. Employment Benefit expenditures decreased by 2.6%, to a total of $30.3 million.

3.2.9.4 Support measures (EAS)

In FY1819, Saskatchewan delivered 12,791 EAS interventions, representing 12.5% more than in FY1718. Growth in both employment services (+970; +16.3%) and individual counselling (+539; +10.7%) were partially offset by a drop in group services (-87; -22.5%). Compared to FY1718, EAS expenditures doubled from $5.4 million to $10.9 million (+100.9%). The increase was attributed to the province strengthening its approach to assessing the employability of clients and streaming clients into programs most conducive to their employability needs.

3.2.9.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

In FY1819, Saskatchewan's total LMP and R&I expenditures ($1.9 million) declined slightly (- 0.9%). Saskatchewan's R&I investments included a follow-up survey of clients in labour market programs, including those funded under the LMDA, and 2 program evaluations. One of the key findings identified in all 3 of the research activities was the increase of clients with mental health conditions. In response to these findings, ICT hosted mental health and career development workshops for ministry staff, third-party service providers and other human service ministries, to implement strategies for supporting or improving the mental health of clients through career development. Early feedback from those who participated in the training, indicated that staff have a better understanding of the relationship between mental health and employment.

Alberta: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 83,271

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
51,787	31,484

Total interventions: 158,819

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	18,132	10.8%
Support Measures: EAS	140,687	4.3%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	11.4%	0.7
Support Measures: EAS	88.6%	0.7

Total allocation: $157.0 million¹

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$92.4	17.2%
Support Measures: EAS	$56.7	14.5%
LMP and R&I	$5.0	50.4%
Total Expenditures2	$154.0	17.0%

¹ Alberta invested $2,929,005 of its total allocation towards administration costs, representing 10.0% of the Budget 2017 additional funding the Province received in FY1819.
² Totals may not add up due to rounding and does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$233.42	$205.88	11.8%

Informed by the needs of stakeholders, Alberta's labour market priorities in FY1819 were focussed on diversifying the economy, as it was recovering from the latest commodities downturn, serving under-represented groups including Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, newcomers and highly-barriered individuals, as well as getting Albertans back to work. The target clientele for this last priority are those recently unemployed, particularly those affected by layoffs in the coal, oil, gas, engineering and technology industries.

Labour market conditions improved for a second consecutive year in the province in FY1819. Employment increased by 34,600 (+1.5%), almost entirely in full-time positions (+34,100; +1.8%), while the unemployment rate decreased from 7.4% to 6.7%. This was 1.7 percentage points lower than the recent peak of 8.4% in FY1617 following the commodities downturn. Both goods-producing and services-producing sectors saw their employment levels increase. Manufacturing (+8,000; +6.5%), as well as forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas (+4,600; +3.1%) led employment growth in the goods-producing sector (+14,400; +2.5%) for a second consecutive year. Public administration (+9,500; +9.2%), health care and social assistance (+7,800; +2.9%), as well as business, building and other support services (+5,800; + 7.0%) led the growth in the services-producing sector (+20,200; +1.2%).

3.2.10.1 Managing for results

Alberta Advanced Education (AE) collaborates with job creators and post-secondary institutions on an on-going basis, to ensure the apprenticeship education programs meet industry and labour market needs. AE works with Alberta's industry network and the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board, to develop and maintain program standards, and with post-secondary institutions to coordinate classroom instruction.

In FY1819, AE developed an online and automated process for apprentices to submit documents. This process replaces physical mail and/or the need to visit an office in-person. This approach makes it faster for many apprentices to register for classes. Nine publicly funded post-secondary providers now offer online class registrations via MyTradesecrets, an online service that provides clients and stakeholders with access to program information. Approximately 66.0% of all apprenticeship class registrations in FY1819 were online.

AE also developed a project to estimate apprenticeship class sizes. It uses Machine Learning, a statistical and computational model, to analyze key indicators (for example, data on apprenticeship and economic forecasts) and predict the demand for classroom instruction. The model helps AE meet the demand for classroom instruction, by planning for the corresponding spaces needed. This results in reduced expenses for the post-secondary system and increased value for apprentices continuing their education.

Targeting, Referral and Feedback (TRF), beginning in January 2018, Transition to Employment Services (TES) providers used TRF throughout Alberta to target their services to recently unemployed Albertans. TRF has been beneficial to connect EI clients to employment and training services in their own communities, including promoting programs intended for target client groups, such as mature workers and occupations in Alberta's resource sector which are experiencing a decline in employment, including engineers, geologists and technologists. Most TES providers make referrals based on the last occupation an individual entered on their EI application, according to the National Occupation Classification code; however, in some smaller communities, the criteria for selection is broadened to increase the number of referrals.

3.2.10.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

For a third consecutive year, the total number of clients served in Alberta fell, totalling 83,271 (-7.3%) in FY1819. With the exception of PPE (8,388), a new client category, all other client types declined, with active claimants (30,363), former claimants (13,036) and non-insured clients (31,484) dropping by 13.5%, 17.8% and 19.1%, respectively. With regards to their shares relative to the total number of clients, the proportion of each client type declined as follows: active claimants (36.5%), former claimants (15.7%), and non-insured clients (37.8%) decreased by 2.6, 2.0 and 5.5 percentage points, respectively. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category, which accounted for 10.1% of all clients.

For a third consecutive year, the total number of interventions delivered in Alberta dropped, reaching 158,819 (-5.1%) in FY1819. While the share of Employment Benefits (11.4%) contracted by 0.7 percentage point, that of EAS (88.6%) expanded (+0.7 percentage point), for the first time since FY1011. In total, 18,669 individuals (-0.3%) became employed after participating in EBSM-similar programming, and unpaid EI benefits reached $205.88 million, a year over year drop of 11.8%. Total LMDA expenses grew by 17.0% to $154.0 million. This included $29.3 million as part of a $225.0 million envelope in additional LMDA funding, announced in Budget 2017.

On top of these expenditures, $3.3 million was made available to the province under the additional targeted funding measures to support workers in seasonal industries and those affected by trade disputes in the steel and aluminum industries, and the forest sector, which the province did not access.

Chart 28 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	46,385	61,503	48,917	41,394	39,823	42,472	43,398	51,694	49,720	35,101	30,363
Former clients	16,245	18,168	22,683	20,966	18,234	16,819	15,820	16,213	14,087	15,856	13,036
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	8 388
Non-insured clients	69,072	76,097	72,284	65,098	62,404	63,516	60,344	60,191	54,258	38,909	31,484

Chart 29 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	26,931	32,150	30,937	26,419	23,368	22,398	20,752	19,931	18,010	14,010	12,940
Core-age (25 to 54)	71,068	88,918	83,924	74,821	70,296	72,087	68,930	73,572	66,665	48,749	42,996
Older workers (55+)	7,026	9,,519	10,077	9,980	9,467	10,204	10,157	11,755	11,212	8,766	8,036

Chart 30 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	27,869	31,341	29,890	25,776	23,686	25,092	25,745	26,525	29,671	18,726	18,669
Active claimants served	46,385	61,503	48,917	41,394	39,823	42,472	43,398	51,694	49,720	35,101	30,363
Total clients served	131,702	155,768	143,884	127,458	120,461	122,807	119,562	128,098	118,065	89,866	83,271
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$254,39	$347,95	$329,59	$223,61	$219,63	$249,34	$266,98	$267,88	$384,91	$233,42	$205,88

3.2.10.3 Employment benefits

For a third consecutive year, the number of Employment Benefit interventions delivered by Alberta fell, reaching 18,132 (-10.8%) in FY1819. While the number of Self-Employment (SE) (-42; -13.9%), Job Creation Partnership (JCP) (-39; -3.8%) and SD-A (- 2,301; -13.0%) interventions declined, gains were recorded in Targeted Wage Subsidy (TWS) (+52; +40.9%), and Skills Development-Regular (SD-R) (+134; +11.7%). The province spent $92.4 million on Employment Benefits (+17.2%).

The apprenticeship and industry training system is responsive to industry demand. Historically, changes in demand for training lag behind the economic changes that drive demand for skilled tradespeople in the workforce. In response to the economic downturn that began in 2014, fewer new apprentices registered in 2015 and 2016, and attendance began to decline significantly in FY1718 and continued in FY1819. This decline accounts for the majority of Alberta's decrease in the number of Employment Benefit interventions delivered.

3.2.10.4 Support measures: Employment Assistance Services (EAS)^{Footnote 15} 

Alberta delivered fewer EAS interventions —delivered solely through Employment Services— in FY1819 compared to FY1718, for a total of 140,687 (-6,368; -4.3%). EAS total expenditures jumped from $49.5 million to $56.7 million, a 14.5% year-over-year increase.

Alberta job seekers benefited from the expanded Transition to Employment Services program in FY1819. The program helps unemployed Albertans update and adjust their existing skills to new occupations in emerging sectors through short-term skills training, job search supports, unpaid work exposure and job placement services. The Transition to Employment Services program continued to increase the number of eligible Albertans served, due to new services set up in Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Cold Lake, Bonnyville and Fort McMurray in FY1819.

3.2.10.5 Other support measures: LMP

Compared to FY1718, total funding for LMP grew by 50.4% to $5.0 million. In total, 57 organizations participated in LMP in FY1819 in Alberta. There were no reported expenditures under Research and Innovation in FY1819.

The LMP grant program supports workplace human resource development and labour market adjustment strategies through community partnerships. Grant projects were conducted to assess regional or industry labour markets, address labour market issues identified by communities/employers/industry, and share best practices related to workforce development. Sixteen LMP grants were provided to Indigenous communities and stakeholders throughout Alberta. The projects supported local labour market needs and created opportunities that improved Indigenous participation in the workforce. The Indigenous LMP projects reached 4,165 Indigenous stakeholders, job seekers and employers in the province and included job and career fairs, labour market analysis surveys, Indigenous occupational and cultural awareness and improving access to both employers and jobseekers.

British Columbia: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 61,690

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
38,358	23,332

Total interventions: 161,471

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	20,182	6.1%
Support Measures: EAS	141,289	13.7%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	12.5%	0.9
Support Measures: EAS	87.5%	0.9

Total allocation: $307.3 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$179.6	9.9%
Support Measures: EAS	$99.7	2.0%
LMP and R&I	$26.0	10.6%
Total Expenditures1	$305.4	3.7%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding and does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$136.56	$136.81	0.2%

Labour market conditions in British Columbia continued to improve in FY1819, but at a slower rate than in previous years. Employment grew by 34,500 (+1.4%), less than half the rate of growth of FY1617 and FY1718. The unemployment rate declined to 4.7%, one of the lowest among all provinces and territories, as the number of unemployed individuals continued to decrease (-7,100; -5.5%). Employment growth was entirely realized in the services producing sector (+37,800; +1.9%), led by gains in professional, scientific and technical services (+15,200; +7.6%), accommodation and food services (+11,600; +6.4%), as well as in health care and social assistance (+10,400; +3.3%). Losses were registered in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (-7,200; -4.6%), and in wholesale and retail trade (‑6,500; - 1.7%). In the goods-producing sector (-3,300; -0.7%), declines in manufacturing (-4,100; -2.3%) and agriculture (-2,000; - 7.6%) were partially offset by a gain in construction (+2,600; +1.1%).

British Columbia's priorities for FY1819 aimed at strengthening the province's labour market, by delivering responsive programs and services to better align skills training with local labour market needs. This included:

• investments in training to better align British Columbians with sustainable job opportunities and to meet employer demands
• implementation strategies to engage all British Columbians, including underrepresented groups
• partnerships with local communities and organizations to further develop and increase community-based partnerships across the province, and
• leveraging and enhancing labour market information and knowledge

3.2.11.1 Managing for results

3.2.11.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

British Columbia served 61,690 clients (-10.6% year-over-year) in FY1819, representing a fifth consecutive year of decline. With the exception of PPE (2,904), a new insured client segment, all other client types dropped as follows: active claimants (28,399), former claimants (7,055), and non-insured clients (23,332), by 13.6%, 30.9%, and 9.9%, respectively. The decrease in non-insured could be due to the new PPE category. As for their shares relative to the total number of clients, active claimants (46.0%) and former claimants (11.4%) decreased by 1.6 and 3.4 percentage points, respectively, while the proportion of non-insured clients (37.8%) remained relatively unchanged (+0.3 percentage point). The new PPE client type accounted for 4.7% of all clients served.

For a fifth consecutive year, British Columbia delivered a decreasing number of interventions, for a total of 161,471 (-12.8%) in FY1819. Similar to the previous fiscal years, EAS remained the most delivered intervention type, and accounted for 87.5% of all interventions. In total, 21,515 individuals (+2.5%) returned to work after participating in EBSM-similar programming, and unpaid EI benefits ($136.81 million) remained relatively stable (+0.2%) compared to FY1718. Total EBSM expenditures reached $305.4 million (+3.7%) in FY1819, including $22.8 million of the $225.0 million LMDA additional funding announced in Budget 2017. British Columbia also received additional targeted LMDA funding through the following special measures: $5.0 million to support workers affected by a trade dispute in the forest sector, $1.6 million to support workers affected by the steel and aluminum trade dispute, as well as close to $1.0 million to support workers in seasonal industries.

Additional financial support provided to British Columbia in FY1819 was used to address the impact on communities affected by trade disputes, with a focus on supports such as retraining. WorkBC Centres providing client services in communities with increasing client volumes were provided additional funding to meet demands. $1.34 million of additional funding was added to 10 communities in British Columbia during the year.

Funding also went into Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) supported projects that offered skills training and work experience, with an investment of $1.6 million into 6 projects in communities affected by the forestry sector downturn. Due to the timing of Budget 2017 top-up transfers, $2.0 million in unspent LMDA funding was returned to Canada.

Downturns in the forestry sector and seasonal wildfires have had an impact on several rural communities. In response, WorkBC has been able to support communities through a number of CEP projects.

The Fire Mitigation Project is a Job Creation Partnership project coordinated by the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way. This project will complete fire mitigation activities, including wildfire site reclamation and restoration for 160 properties in Ashcroft/Cache Creek, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Quesnel, areas that have historically been impacted by wildfires.

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR) is providing over $725,000 to fund the project, which will provide a minimum of 20 participants with training and work experience in conducting property assessments, fire mitigation and restoration activities, all of which will increase their opportunities to find sustainable employment. The communities will benefit from knowing they are better prepared for the fire season, especially vulnerable citizens who may have limited capacity to undertake fire mitigation activities themselves.

Chart 31 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	43,636	64,197	51,433	36,889	31,953	34,612	34,937	35,891	35,272	32,881	28,399
Former clients	10,652	14,720	16,828	12,984	13,303	11,336	9,502	9,007	8,733	10,209	7,055
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	2,904
Non-insured clients	41,736	35,795	38,415	29,068	31,522	35,680	32,365	31,706	31,073	25,883	23,332

Chart 32 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	16,137	18,965	17,929	12,846	9,719	10,935	9,666	9,232	8,687	7,126	7,337
Core-age (25 to 54)	56,345	70,080	64,350	45,872	46,584	49,179	45,010	44,893	44,197	39,939	36,047
Older workers (55+)	7,612	9,886	9,934	7,839	9,524	10,295	9,738	9,733	9,701	9,302	8,527

Chart 33 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	31,607	38,931	42,082	33,580	16,777	20,040	19,818	19,552	21,050	20,997	21,515
Active claimants served	43,636	64,197	51,433	36,889	31,953	34,612	34,937	35,891	35,272	32,881	28,399
Total clients served	96,024	114,712	106,676	78,941	76,778	81,628	76,804	76,604	75,078	68,973	61,690
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$161,76	$241,66	$228,44	$146,43	$112,51	$121,85	$126,47	$125,29	$152,70	$136,56	$136,81

3.2.11.3 Employment benefits

In FY1819, the total number of Employment Benefit interventions (20,182) delivered in British Columbia decreased by 6.1% year over year. While SD-A (+283; +2.1%) advanced, TWS (-396; -20.9%), SE (-638; - 27.4%), JCP (-13; -6.0%), and SD-R (-552; -15.8%) experienced declines. The province spent $179.6 million (+9.9%) on Employment Benefits. While the number of clients accessing WorkBC Employment Services declined, the average cost of training related services and living supports have continued to increase in WorkBC over the last 3 years. This is consistent with Statistics Canada reported increases in average tuition fees and the Consumer Price Index in British Columbia.

In FY1819, additional financial support provided to British Columbia addressed the impacts on communities affected by trade disputes, and focused on retraining. WorkBC Centres in communities with increasing client volumes were provided additional funding to meet demands. Funding also went to the Community and Employer Partnership supported projects that offered skills training and work experience, with an investment of $1.6 million in 6 projects, for communities affected by the forest sector downturn.

3.2.11.4 Employment Assistance Services

In FY1819, British Columbia delivered 141,289 (-13.7%) EAS interventions, representing the fifth consecutive year of decline. All EAS-types contributed to this drop: Employment services (‑15,189; - 13.2%), group services (-5; -7.9%), and individual counselling (-7,295; -15.1%). EAS expenditures fell from last fiscal year's total of $101.8 million to $99.7 million in FY1819.

3.2.11.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

LMP and R&I funding in British Columbia decreased by 10.6%, to $26.0 million in FY1819. Both LMP ($11.0 million) and R&I ($15.0 million) dropped by 14.2% and 7.9%, respectively.

To achieve its goal of forming partnerships with a wide range of communities and organizations, British Columbia continued to leverage funding from the Community and Employer Partnership program to learn about and address its unique local labour market issues, as well as social challenges beyond unemployment. LMP and R&I are important components that support British Columbia's local communities. Key activities under these programs in FY1819 included:

• developing a labour market strategy for the Cariboo Region
• developing strategies to reduce labour shortages in Williams Lake
• identifying the labour market issues, training gaps and community action plans in Northeastern British Columbia, in light of major liquified natural gas, mining and dam construction projects in the region
• developing strategies and models to support recruitment and retention of under-represented groups in the creative industries in Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Kelowna
• identifying new, innovative and untested approaches to supporting persons with disabilities in exploring technical occupations that align with diverse abilities, and
• researching and analyzing gaps, opportunities and skill requirements in the manufacturing sector in the Nelson and Castlegar areas

Northwest Territories: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 1,055

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
700	355

Total interventions: 2,000

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	238	9.8%
Support Measures: EAS	1,762	7.6%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	11.9%	0.3
Support Measures: EAS	88.1%	0.3

Total allocation: $3.3 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$1.8	15.4%
Support Measures: EAS	$1.0	18.8%
LMP and R&I	$0.2	26.8%
Total Expenditures1	$2.9	1.5%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding and does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$1.30	$1.64	26.3%

Employment in the Northwest Territories bounced back in FY1819 (+400; +1.8%), after declining in FY1718 (-1,100; -4.8%), with important gains realized in full-time positions (+800; +4.7%). The territory's unemployment rate improved to 6.9%, passing below the 7.0% mark for the first time since FY1011.

In FY1819, the Northwest Territories continued to implement the Skills 4 Success 4-Year Action Plan 2016 to 2020. The latest key strategy of this action plan, released in April 2018, was the NWT Small Communities Employment Strategy 2018 to 2024, to enhance employment and training opportunities and outcomes in the small communities of the territory. Consistent with the overall objectives of the Skills 4 Success 4-Year Action Plan 2016 to 2020, the territory's priorities of the Labour Market Development Agreement for FY1819 were to:

• provide access to programs for EI clients in order to enhance their skills and increase their likelihood of returning work quickly
• develop the tools to identify EI clients earlier in their claim in order to offer them more relevant and better adapted programming
• continue to provide quality career development resources and services through Regional Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Service Centres

3.2.12.1 Managing for results

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) took a multi-pronged approach to stakeholder engagement. It had ongoing engagement at the regional and community level through Regional ECE Service Centres, which included working with regional training committees, education and training providers, Indigenous Governments, community organizations and businesses in the communities to serve the career development needs of individuals and communities. The GNWT also, over the course of the past 4 years, has undertaken larger scale engagements, as part of Skills 4 Success and the development of complementary strategies. In addition, the territory is currently implementing the Targeting, Referral and Feedback (TRF) system.

3.2.12.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

In FY1819, the Northwest Territories served 1,055 clients, a drop of 28.2% compared to FY1718. With the exception of PPE clients (229), a new client category, all other client types dropped: active claimants (266), former claimants (205), and non-insured clients (355) declined by 20.1%, 40.2% and 55.2%, respectively. As for their shares relative to the total number of clients served, active claimants (25.2%) advanced by 2.5 percentage points, while former claimants (19.4%) and non-insured clients (33.6%) decreased by 3.9 and 20.3 percentage points, respectively. The proportion of PPE clients was 21.7%. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

After 3 consecutive years of growth, the total number of interventions delivered in the Northwest Territories dropped, totalling 2,000 (-7.9% year-over-year) in FY1819. EAS remained the most delivered intervention, with a proportion of 88.1%.

In total, 181 individuals (+27.5%) returned to employment after participating in EBSM-similar programming, and unpaid EI benefits amounted to $1.64 million (+26.3%). EBSM expenditures totalled $2.9 million (-1.5%), including $300,000 representing Northwest Territories' portion of the $225.0 million in additional LMDA funding announced in Budget 2017.

In addition to these expenditures, $800,000 in additional targeted funding was made available to support workers in seasonal industries and those affected by the trade dispute in the forest sector, which the territory did not access.

Chart 34 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	386	478	413	327	314	347	294	325	306	333	266
Former clients	99	130	134	153	144	151	138	195	156	343	205
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	229
Non-insured clients	280	368	388	437	460	532	500	849	573	793	355

Chart 35 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	197	270	277	305	300	274	283	435	295	443	305
Core-age (25 to 54)	482	631	523	535	526	516	496	735	526	825	632
Older workers (55+)	44	41	36	28	32	56	46	76	59	78	69

Chart 36 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	208	278	263	202	185	200	193	173	177	142	181
Active claimants served	386	478	413	327	314	347	294	325	306	333	266
Total clients served	765	976	935	917	918	1,030	932	1,369	1,035	1,469	1,055
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$2,68	$4,05	$3,51	$2,34	$2,16	$2,33	$2,35	$1,82	$2,04	$1,30	$1,64

3.2.12.3 Employment benefits

Compared to FY1718, the Northwest Territories delivered fewer Employment Benefit interventions (238) in FY1819, representing a 9.8% year-over-year decrease. While both SD-R (+32; +58.2%) and SD-A (+1; +0.8%) advanced, TWS (-46; -76.7%), SE (-3; -21.4%), and JCP (‑10; -100.0%) dropped. Employment Benefit expenditures grew by 15.4% to $1.8 million.

3.2.12.4 Support measures: EAS

After 3 consecutive years of growth, EAS interventions (1,762) in the Northwest Territories dropped by 7.6% in FY1819. This decline is attributed solely to individual counselling (-145; - 7.6%). The territory invested $1.0 million (‑18.8%) in EAS.

3.2.12.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

For a third consecutive year, total funding for LMP and R&I dropped, amounting to $152,000 (‑26.8%) in FY1819. For a third consecutive year, LMP decreased, reaching $75,000 (-41.4%) in FY1819. R&I dropped for a second consecutive year, reaching $77,000 (-3.7%) in FY1819.

Yukon: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 338

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
263	75

Total interventions: 404

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	197	9.4%
Support Measures: EAS	207	24.2%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	48.8%	9.1
Support Measures: EAS	51.2%	9.1

Total allocation: $4.0 million¹

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$1.5	17.1%
Support Measures: EAS	$1.5	6.8%
LMP and R&I	$0.05	76.8%
Total Expenditures2	$3.1	10.9%

¹ Yukon invested $19,850.66 of its total allocation towards administration costs, representing almost 8.0% of the Budget 2017 additional funding the Territory received in FY1819.
² Totals may not add up due to rounding; does not include accounting adjustments.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$1.30	$1.64	5.8%

Yukon's overall employment level remained relatively unchanged in FY1819 (+100; +0.2%) compared to FY1718. A net decline of 200 full-time positions (-1.2%) was more than offset by an increase in part-time employment (+300; +9.1%). Yukon's unemployment rate edged up to 3.4%, the lowest among all provinces and territories. The territory's participation and employment rates were the highest in the country. Yukon priorities for FY1819 included:

• establishing improved, government-to-government consultation processes with Yukon's First Nation governments
• providing relevant, quality and timely labour market information for users
• facilitating Yukon employers' ability to recruit suitable employees
• enhancing Yukon employers' ability to retain skilled employees
• ensuring training opportunities are available for all Yukon people
• facilitating and improving learning and employment transitions

3.2.13.1 Managing for results

Yukon is working with the Government of Canada to simplify and automate reporting where possible, while improving reporting turn-around times. The territory is also implementing a new system by which it will be able to share LMDA data with the Government of Canada on a monthly basis. In addition, Yukon is working with ESDC to implement the Targeting, Referral and Feedback (TRF) system.

3.2.13.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

After 2 consecutive years of growth, the total number of clients served in Yukon decreased, reaching 338 (-6.1%) in FY1819. While 39 of the clients served were PPE clients, a new category of insured clients, all other client-types experienced drops, with active claimants (189), former claimants (35) and non-insured clients (75) decreasing by 9.1%, 20.5% and 30.6%, respectively. As for their shares of the total number of clients served, the new PPE client reached 11.5%. Active claimants (55.9%), former claimants (10.4%) and non-insured clients (22.2%) saw their proportions in the total number of clients served drop by 1.9%, 1.9%, and 7.8%, respectively. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

Compared to FY1718, Yukon delivered fewer EBSM-similar interventions in FY1819 (404), a 10.8% year‑over‑year decline. The share of EAS relative to all interventions fell from 60.3% to 51.2% (‑9.1 percentage points year‑over‑year), while that of Employment Benefits advanced from 39.7% to 48.8% (+9.1 percentage points year-over-year). In total, unpaid EI benefits jumped by 5.8% to $1.07 million, and 120 individuals (-14.9%) returned to employment after participating in EBSM-similar programming. Total expenditures for EBSMs fell from $3.5 million in FY1718 to $3.1 million in FY1819, a 10.9% year-over-year decrease. This amount included $200,000 the territory received in FY1819 as part of the $225.0 million in LMDA additional funding announced in Budget 2017.

On top of these expenditures, $800,000 was also made available to Yukon under the additional targeted funding measures to support workers in seasonal industries and those affected by the trade dispute in the forest sector, which the territory did not access.

Chart 37 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	284	344	289	305	338	271	259	211	201	208	189
Former clients	81	77	56	97	93	45	45	41	34	44	35
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	39
Non-insured clients	297	197	176	267	274	96	131	65	85	108	75

Chart 38 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	115	94	94	109	119	41	53	28	35	34	27
Core-age (25 to 54)	307	301	240	311	323	163	174	131	134	167	176
Older workers (55+)	50	43	30	71	71	37	48	28	24	29	25

Chart 39 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	279	270	250	270	256	230	170	188	176	141	120
Active claimants served	284	344	289	305	338	271	259	211	201	208	189
Total clients served	662	618	521	669	705	412	435	317	320	360	338
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$2,23	$2,77	$2,62	$2,57	$2,14	$2,40	$1,85	$1,27	$1,50	$1,01	$1,07

3.2.13.3 Employment benefits

In FY1819, the number of Employment Benefit interventions in Yukon advanced by 9.4% to 197. All intervention types contributed to this growth: TWS (+1; +33.3%), SD-R (+2; +7.4%), and SD-A (+14; +9.3%). The territory spent $1.5 million (+17.1%) on Employment Benefits.

3.2.13.4 Support measures: EAS

Compared to last fiscal year, Yukon delivered fewer EAS interventions in FY1819, a decline of 24.2%, for a total of 207. Similar to FY1718, employment services was the sole delivered EAS-type. EAS expenditures advanced by 6.8% to $1.5 million.

3.2.13.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

For a third consecutive year, Yukon's total funding for other support measures fell, reaching $51,000 (‑76.8%) in FY1819. Unlike what was recorded over the previous fiscal year, this amount was spent solely on R&I.

Nunavut: EBSM key facts

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Total clients served: 1,247

Insured clients	Non-insured clients
553	694

Total interventions: 1,701

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	330	24.3%
Support Measures: EAS	1,371	14.3%

Relative share of interventions

Intervention type	FY1819	Year-over-year change(pp)
Employment Benefits	19.4%	7.3
Support Measures: EAS	80.6%	7.3

Total allocation: $3.4 million

Total expenditures	FY1819 ($ million)	Year-over-year change
Employment Benefits	$2.0	2.6%
Support Measures: EAS	$0.2	2.6%
LMP and R&I	$0.2	2.3%
Total Expenditures1,2	$2.3	2.6%

¹ Totals may not add up due to rounding and does not include accounting adjustments.
² Expenditures are estimates as Nunavut was unable to provide an audited financial statement at time of writing, as Government of Nunavut networks were impacted by ransomware in late 2019.

Unpaid EI benefits ($ million)

FY1718	FY1819	Year-over-year change
$0.78	$0.64	17.9%

Nunavut's overall employment level increased by 300 (+2.4%) in FY1819, all in full-time positions (+500; +4.4%), while part-time employment edged down by 200 (-8.8%). The territory's unemployment rate increased to 14.5%, the highest among all provinces and territories, as more people joined the labour force in search for work (+500; +3.1%).

Translating the territory's fast economic growth into job opportunities represented Nunavut's main labour market challenge. This applied particularly to the Inuit population which was employed in a much lower proportion than the non-Inuit population. The territory's labour market priorities in FY1819 were:

• preparing the labour force to meet the needs of a growing and transitioning economy
• developing programs to improve the participation of youth and persons with disabilities in the labour market
• encouraging greater employer involvement in training, to ensure that skills are aligned with current and future job opportunities
• helping Nunavummiut to develop the essential skills to succeed in finding and keeping employment
• connecting Nunavummiut job seekers with job opportunities through accurate, timely and comprehensive labour market information
• engaging with community leaders, community organizations, municipalities, Inuit organizations and other levels of government to leverage partnership opportunities

3.2.14.1 Managing for results

To increase client participation in its EBSM-similar programming, Nunavut improves client service by monitoring and adjusting its service delivery model on a regular basis. To ensure all clients receive the best results from EAS, the territory is developing an ongoing professional development program for its front-line staff. As well, the case management system is being evaluated to identify measures to more effectively meet client needs. These improvements are driving the creation of new information sources and tools to inform practice and policy.

3.2.14.2 Clients, interventions and expenditures

Similar to FY1718, Nunavut served a growing number of clients, totaling 1,247 (+14.0%). PPE clients, a new client category, reached 234. Former claimants (177) increased by 5.4%, while active claimants (142) and non-insured clients (694) dropped by 7.2% and 10.2%, respectively. With regard to their shares of all clients served, PPE clients accounted for 18.8%, while other client-types registered losses, with active claimants (11.4%), former claimants (14.2%), and non-insured clients (55.7%) declining by 2.6, 1.2 and 15.0 percentage points, respectively. The decline in the proportion of non-insured clients may be attributable to the new PPE category.

In FY1819, Nunavut delivered 1,701 interventions (+4.0%), with EAS-interventions remaining the most used intervention type. Returns to employment in the territory dropped by 7.7% to 48, while unpaid EI benefits was $0.64 million (-17.9%). Total expenditures towards EBSM-similar programming grew by 2.6% to $2.3 million. These included $257,434 the territory received in FY1819 as part of the $225.0 million additional LMDA funding from Budget 2017. The territory also received additional targeted funding to support workers in seasonal industries ($250,000). In addition, following the signature of the Agreement to Amend the Canada - Nunavut LMDA in the summer of 2018, the territory received its share ($146,984) of the additional $125.0 million in LMDA funding for FY1718, announced in Budget 2017.

Chart 40 – Text version

Client	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Active clients	136	179	109	107	100	98	110	126	116	153	142
Former clients	95	160	73	80	113	128	126	154	95	168	177
PPE	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	234
Non-insured clients	276	507	38	89	219	173	460	706	628	773	694

Chart 41 – Text version

Age	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Youth (15 to 24)	150	247	38	65	132	120	241	332	307	467	511
Core-age (25 to 54)	290	531	125	166	231	223	399	567	466	540	652
Older workers (55+)	8	11	7	7	7	9	25	42	28	34	42

Chart 42 – Text version

Key performance indicators	FY0809	FY0910	FY1011	FY1112	FY1213	FY1314	FY1415	FY1516	FY1617	FY1718	FY1819
Returns to employment	104	175	80	65	53	50	47	53	75	52	48
Active claimants served	136	179	109	107	100	98	110	126	116	153	142
Total clients served	507	846	220	276	432	399	696	986	839	1,094	1,247
Estimated unpaid EI benefits ($ million)	$0,76	$1,08	$0,82	$0,78	$0,40	$0,38	$0,52	$0,62	$1,15	$0,78	$0,64

3.2.14.3 Employment benefits

In FY1819, Nunavut delivered 330 Employment Benefit interventions (-24.3%). While SD-A (+2; +5.1%) rose, TWS (-34; -100.0%), SE (-2; -28.6%) and SD-R (-72; -20.2%) fell. The territory spent $2.0 million (+2.6%) on Employment Benefits.

3.2.14.4 Support measures: EAS

Compared to FY1718, EAS interventions in Nunavut, delivered solely through employment services grew, by 14.3%, from 1,200 to 1,371. Nunavut did not offer group services and individual counselling. The territory spent $0.2 million (+2.6%) on EAS.

3.2.14.5 Other support measures: LMP and R&I

In FY1819, LMP total expenditures grew from $172,000 to $176,000, representing a year over year increase of 2.3%. Similar to the previous fiscal year, no R&I expenditures were recorded in FY1819.

Background on LMDA evaluations

The third LMDA evaluation cycle is building on the success and lessons learned from the second LMDA evaluation cycle. This evaluation will focus on filling in knowledge gaps about the effectiveness, efficiency and design/delivery of Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSMs). This evaluation cycle will have 100% coverage of LMDA spending.

Evaluation approach

The Job Creation Partnership (JCP) study used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to produce the evaluation findings. The qualitative analysis focused on exploring the design and delivery of the JCP program at the time of the data collection (fall 2018). The qualitative analysis is based on document review and key informant interviews.

The document review examined program guidelines from all 8 PTs where the JCP program is implemented. Key informant interviews included semi-structured telephone interviews with key informants, ranging from government officials involved in budget decisions and overseeing program delivery, to training providers that deliver JCP training to participants.

The quantitative component includes a statistical profile of JCP participants, using data on those who started their participation in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

Program description

The objective of JCP is to provide participants with the opportunity to gain work experience or training that improves their employment prospects. Program delivery varies in 2 ways:

• in 5 PTs, JCP is project-based with projects are established with organizations (often non-profit), aiming to benefit the community and participants
• in another 3 PTs, the program has a training and a work experience component. Training organizations are tasked with delivering programming that addresses labour market demand, and developing relationships with employers. In addition to a work experience placement, training activities include occupation training (including pre-apprenticeship), employability and/or essential skills training and English training

Program delivery

The following is a summary of responses from key informants, supplemented by program guidelines from 8 PTs where the JCP program is implemented.

• Recruitment of project holders and training providers: PT contract coordinators are responsible for promoting the program mainly to non-profit organizations in 5 PTs. Organizations submit proposals and contract coordinators work with them to ensure compliance with JCP guidelines. Training providers are often selected via a request for proposal process in order to target or address a specific labour market need
• Recruitment of participants: The recruitment of participants is largely the responsibility of project holders or training providers. Project holders and training providers advertise positions non-exclusively through word of mouth (5 PTs), newsletters (4 PTs), the organization's website (3 PTs), local newspapers (3 PTs), job fairs (3 PTs) and social media (3 PTs). Contract coordinators, service providers, and case workers in all 8 PTs also conduct varying degrees of recruitment activities
• Individual assessment process: PTs utilize different processes during the assessment of applicants' eligibility, needs, and suitability. In 7 PTs, the creation of a Return to Work Action Plan is also included in the assessment process. In 3 of these PTs, action plans are developed either at the same time that eligibility is assessed, after an employability assessment is conducted, or after project holders or training providers select participants
• Monitoring: In 3 PTs, participants are case-managed by service providers or case workers. In 5 PTs, service providers, case workers, contract coordinators or training providers also conduct follow-up monitoring. During the project, contract coordinators also monitor implementation by training providers or project holders

Profile of participants

4,658 EI-eligible individuals participated in JCP between April 2015 and March 2017:

• almost a 50-50 split between active and former EI claimants
• 47% women and 53% men
• One-fifth were older workers (55 and over) and one-quarter were 30 and under
• in the year prior to JCP participation, 80% of former claimants earned under $10,000 per year. This percentage was 54% for active claimants
• 34% were long-tenured workers and 45% frequent EI claimants (including 23% seasonal workers)
• before applying for EI, nearly 60% of participants occupied jobs requiring on-the-job training or a high school diploma. A little over 30% of them occupied jobs requiring no or few days of training. As well, JCP participants occupied jobs in the manufacturing, retail trade, construction and public administration sectors prior to their EI claim

Incremental impacts and cost-benefit analysis

Incremental impacts and cost-benefit analysis studies were carried out in the 2014 to 2016 period as part of the second LMDA evaluation cycle. Findings from these studies were published in September 2017 in the Synthesis Report for the Evaluation of the Labour Market Development Agreements. Incremental impacts were estimated for the 2002 to 2005 cohort of participants in 2014 and for the 2007 to 2008 cohort of participants in 2015.

LMDA evaluations found that compared to non-participants, active claimants who started their JCP participation between 2002 and 2005 experienced increases in earnings and increased incidence of employment, and also reduced their use of EI benefits in the 5 years post JCP participation. Former claimants, who started their JCP participation between 2002 and 2005, experienced increases in their earnings and increased incidence of employment, but these were accompanied by increases in EI use.^{Footnote 16} ,^{Footnote 17}  As well, 34.5% and 33.2% of active claimant participants filed a new claim in years 2 and 3, respectively, following the start of program participation.^{Footnote 18}  (Table 19)

As well, a cost-benefit analysis found that the benefits of JCP exceeded the costs of the program within 5.9 years following participation for active claimants. This study showed that, for former claimant participants, the costs may never be recovered.

Significance level * 1%,
¹ Cumulative change in participant earnings between year 1 and year 5 after participation, 
² Annual Average over 5 Years Post Participation. This estimate can be interpreted as a difference, between participants and non-participants, in the probability of being employed following participation.

As part of the third cycle of LMDA evaluations, a new round of incremental impacts will be conducted for 2010 to 2012 program participants, along with updated cost-benefit analysis.

Overview of LMDAs and the effect on economic security using poverty measures and median wages as proxies

Employment benefits under the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) help clients return to employment after job loss. This sub-section examines the effects of LMDAs on economic security and expands on analysis started in the FY1617 Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report^{Footnote 19} . As poverty and economic security are complex concepts that cannot be fully measured within the scope of this report, poverty measures, such as the Market Basket Measure, low‑income measure, and median wages, will stand in as proxies on a macro level.

In line with Opportunity for All - Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy^{Footnote 20} , this year's report offers evidence that LMDAs provide the tools to succeed in the job market and reduce poverty through active employment programs. An analysis of labour market programs with the Market Basket Measure in four jurisdictions indicates that participation in LMDA programs help active claimants overcome socio‑economic barriers, leave poverty, and in some cases, surpass their highest earning threshold prior to job loss.

While outcomes-based analysis does not allow measured impacts to be unequivocally attributed to LMDAs, the trends observed in this analysis demonstrate that labour market programming has positive effects on poverty and economic security.

Methodology

General outcomes for active claimants who participated in LMDAs between January 2011 to April 2012 show that employment benefits are valuable investments in skills and employment and address some dimensions of poverty. Outcomes were examined against national median wages and poverty measures, to assess how LMDAs improve economic security.

This analysis only consists of active clients. This allows for the use of larger sample sizes and better matches to key individual and labour market characteristics (age, gender, underrepresented labour market group, occupation, and skill level). Cohorts of former clients are therefore excluded.

Analysis of LMDA impacts on economic security

LMDA outcomes were compared with 4 categories of indicators in this section, including data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS), as well as thresholds derived from the Market Basket Measure (MBM) and the low‑income measures (LIM). See Definitions box below for more information. National median wages from the LFS were indexed as a reference line, to measure the growth rate of earnings pre- and post- LMDA interventions. As well, the LFS was used to look at unemployment and labour market tensions on a regional level.

The LIM is included as a proxy for economic security at a macro level. This is the most commonly used low‑income measure for international comparisons. It was used previously to approximate the economic security of active claimants who participated in LMDAs in the FY1617 EI Monitoring and Assessment Report. This year's section adds poverty analysis using the MBM, which is now the official poverty measure for Canada. This analysis also looks at the general outcomes of program participation and links it to poverty. It also examines how the basic cost-of-living plays a role in program outcomes in different regions. Changes in total income before and after participation in employment benefits from 4 cities were measured against the MBM. Using multiple low‑income indicators provides a more comprehensive picture of income inequality and poverty. While the LIM provides a national overview of economic security, the MBM gives a more granular picture of the effects of LMDAs on poverty at a local level^{Footnote 21} .

To control for inflation, all dollar amounts are converted to 2017 constant dollars. To match the program periods, indicators used for the 2011 to 2012 cohort are adjusted to 5 quarter moving averages (January 2010 to April 2011), where possible. This is the amount of time necessary to complete all LMDA programs, as some programs require more time than others. Indicators are then indexed to inflation in order to examine real growth rates. Otherwise, time periods are matched as closely as possible to those of the general outcomes.

The model for wage gap analysis for LMDAs follows the approach of gender-pay gap models used in New Zealand (Statistics NZ, 2018, p. 11), Australia (Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Australian Government, 2019), and New Brunswick (Government of New Brunswick, 2009). The wage gap is the difference between national median wages and those of LMDA participants (expressed as “LMDA” in the equation below), expressed as a percentage of national earnings.

LMDA wage gap = [(median wage - LMDA)/median wage] * 100.

LMDAs, earnings, economic security and poverty

LMDAs help participants leave low-income and poverty by providing skills, training and supports to increase earnings, return to employment and weather socio-economic barriers.

Median wages

Table 20 examines the economic security of active EI claimants, who participated in LMDA programming between the years of 2011 to 2012. Total income of claimants is assessed against a proxy of economic security, comprised of national median wages and the low-income measures (LIM). Economic security is observed for 3 periods of time:

• the pre-program period (1 to 5 years before starting interventions)
• the program period (start year, duration of the program/1 year post-start year for EAS-only clients), and
• the post-program period (1 to 3 years after intervention); fiscal years are included for reference

Total income for participants in Skills Development - Regular (SD-R) programs between 2011 to 2012 had the strongest overall income growth (Chart 43). Within the first year after program participation, total income for this group exceeded their highest pre-program income level (+4.8%), from $25,711 one year before the start of participation to $26,954 1 year after participation (Table 20). This trend continued, where total income 3 years post-program exceeded the highest pre-participation income by +17.2% ($30,139). The wage gap between income from SD-R participants and national median wages narrowed from 52.3% 5 years before program participation ($19,327 to $40,486) to 31.6% 3 years after participation ($30,139 to $44,064), an overall decrease of 20.7 percentage points.

Similarly, income growth after participation in JCP exceeded the highest pre-program levels (+13.0%), from $19,432 (the highest pre-program income level) 1 year before participation to $21,967 1 year after participation (Chart 43). Over the 3-year period after participation, income for this group remained around 15.1% higher than the highest pre-program income (Table 20). The wage gap between JCP participants and national median wages narrowed by 10.6 percentage points, from 60.6% 5 years before participation ($15,948 to $40,486) to 50.0% 3 years after participation ($22,026 to $44,064).

The overall wage gap between Targeted Wage Subsidy (TWS) income and national median wages also narrowed by 2.8 percentage points, from 46.2% 5 years before participation ($21,768 to $40,496) to 43.4% 3 years after participation ($24,945 to $44,064). While income in the first year post‑participation was 3.0% lower than the highest pre-participation income ($23,972 to $24,709), total income for TWS participants recovered after the second year and exceeded the highest pre-participation income by 1.4% ($25,055).

Unlike the other interventions, Employment Assistance Services (EAS) is a low-cost investment that helps active claimants overcome the challenges from job loss. This intervention is not designed to handle structural impediments to job loss. EAS is the gateway for claimants to enter full, or short-term/light-touch interventions. Active claimants in the EAS-only group did not receive any other interventions, those individuals are filtered out of this group. For EAS-only clients, its focus is on reintegrating workers back into employment as soon as possible. Unlike claimants who participated in other programs in addition to EAS, claimants who only had EAS intervention between 2011 to 2012 did not return to their highest income level. EAS-only interventions are not medium-term investments on human capital, and do not necessarily contribute to improved wages in the long run.

While total income in all groups recovered steadily within 3 years of program participation and closed the wage gap with national median wages, income for EAS‑only participants 3 years after participation was 5.3% below their highest pre-job loss income level ($27,076 1 year pre-program to $25,630 3 years after intervention). Despite this, the income growth rate from EAS-only claimants rose faster than the national median wage, and closed the wage gap by 5.3 percentage points, from 45.7% 5 years prior to participation to 40.3% 3 years after participation.

Chart 43 – Text version

Growth rate - Pre-program period

Growth rate	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
SD-R	100,0	109,2	119,4	126,0	133,0
TWS	100,0	105,7	109,2	109,9	113,5
EAS-only	100,0	107,2	113,5	116,1	123,1
JCP	100,0	113,2	121,7	119,0	121,8
Median wages	100	101,8	103,7	105,9	106,7

Growth rate - Program period

Growth rate	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
SD-R	78,8	104,5
TWS	76,5	97,5
EAS-only	81,4	101,7
JCP	66,9	117,0
Median wages	104,7	104,7

Growth rate - Post-program period

Growth rate	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
SD-R	139,5	153,9	155,9
TWS	110,1	115,1	114,6
EAS-only	113,6	116,5	n/a
JCP	137,7	145,0	138,1
Median wages	106,3	106,1	108,8

Notes EAS-only does not have an extended program period. One-year post start period is outside of the program period.
Sources Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted
Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0340-01 Employee wages by occupation, annual 

Table 20 - Earnings of active EI claimants who participated in LMDAs between 2011 to 2012 compared with median wages and the low-income measure, ages 15 years and older, 2017 constant dollars, Canada

For accessibility reasons, the table has been simplified. Consult the PDF version for the full table.

Table 20A - Earnings of active EI claimants who participated in LMDAs: Pre-program period

LMDAs	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
SD-R	$19,327	$21,105	$23,078	$24,347	$25,711
TWS	$21,768	$23,014	$23,764	$23,926	$24,709
JCP	$15,948	$18,059	$19,404	$18,984	$19,432
EAS-only	$21,993	$23,576	$24,956	$25,541	$27,076
Median wages	$40,486	$41,197	$41,977	$42,877	$43,214
LIM	$20,204	$20,864	$21,429	$21,520	$21,583

Notes: Low income measures (LIMs) after tax are set at 50% of adjusted median household income, for an individual person

EAS-only does not have an extended program period. One-year post start period is outside of the program period.

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0232-01 Low income measure (LIM) thresholds by income source and household size

Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0340-01 Employee wages by occupation, annual

Table 20B - Earnings of active EI claimants who participated in LMDAs: Program period

LMDAs	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
SD-R	$15,235	$20,200
TWS	$16,661	$21,226
JCP	$10,666	$18,664
EAS-only	$17,896	$22,377
Median wages	$42,369	$42,379
LIM	$21,879	$22,281

Notes: Low income measures (LIMs) after tax are set at 50% of adjusted median household income, for an individual person

EAS-only does not have an extended program period. One-year post start period is outside of the program period.

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0232-01 Low income measure (LIM) thresholds by income source and household size

Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0340-01 Employee wages by occupation, annual

Table 20C - Earnings of active EI claimants who participated in LMDAs: Post-program period

LMDAs	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
SD-R	$26,954	$29,736	$30,139
TWS	$23,972	$25,055	$24,945
JCP	$21,967	$23,128	$22,026
EAS-only	$24,984	$25,630	n/a
Median wages	$43,053	$42,958	$44,064
LIM	$22,391	$22,746	$23,020

Notes: Low income measures (LIMs) after tax are set at 50% of adjusted median household income, for an individual person

EAS-only does not have an extended program period. One-year post start period is outside of the program period.

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0232-01 Low income measure (LIM) thresholds by income source and household size

Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0340-01 Employee wages by occupation, annual

National picture of general outcomes - Low-income measure (LIM)

In addition to closing the gap on median wages, total income for active EI claimants who participated in labour market programming between 2011 to 2012 grew faster than the low-income measure (LIM). Controlling for inflation, income growth for all groups surpassed the growth rate of low-income within 3 years after program intervention (Chart 44).

Total income for SD-R participants grew faster than the LIM after program participation. The income gap between SD-R and LIM widened to 35.3 percentage points, from 4.3% below LIM 5 years pre-program ($19,327 SD‑R to $20,204 LIM), to 30.9% above LIM 3 years post-program ($30,139 SD‑R to $23,020 LIM). Overall, the growth rate from SD-R rose faster than LIM, from 5 years pre‑program to 3 years post‑program (55.9% SD‑R to 13.9% LIM). From the start of the program period to 3 years post-program, the growth rate for SD-R expanded by 97.8%, compared to 5.2% for LIM from the same period.

Similarly, the overall gap between total income for JCP participants and the LIM widened by 16.7 percentage points (from $15,948 JCP and $20,204 LIM, 5 years pre-program, to $22,026 JCP and $23,020 LIM 3 years post-program). Income grew from 21.1% below LIM 5 years pre-program to 1.7% above LIM 2 years post-program. However, the income growth rate fell behind the growth rate for LIM by 4.3% in the third year post-participation. Overall, the indexed growth rate for JCP was stronger than LIM, 38.1% compared to 13.9%, over the entire period. From the start of the program period, JCP grew by 106.5%, compared to 5.2% for LIM.

Total income for TWS participants was 0.6 percentage points above LIM after program participation. While income was 7.7% above LIM 5 years before participation ($21,768 TWS to $20,204 LIM), they fell to 23.9% below LIM at the start of the program year ($16,661 TWS to $21,879 LIM). The gap between income and LIM widened again after participation, to 8.4% above LIM, 3 years after participation ($24,945 TWS to $23,020 LIM). Over the entire analysis period, the indexed growth rate for TWS was slightly above LIM (14.6% to 13.9%). From the program start year to 3 years post-program, TWS grew 49.7% compared to 5.2% for LIM.

Unlike the other employment programs, EAS-only is designed to support job-ready claimants. Income growth for this group remained above LIM, except during the intervention period, where the income dipped to 18.2% below LIM ($17,896 EAS to $21,879 LIM). The gap between income and LIM was 8.9% above LIM 5 years before participation ($21,993 EAS-only to $20,204 LIM), and increased to 12.7% above LIM 3 years post-intervention ($25,630 EAS-only to $22,746 LIM). Overall, the indexed growth rate of the EAS-only group (5 years pre-intervention to 3 years post-intervention) hovered above LIM, 16.5% to 13.9%. From the start of intervention to 3 years post-intervention, the indexed growth rate for EAS-only was 43.2%, compared to 4.0% for LIM for the same period.

Chart 44 – Text version

Growth rate - Pre-program period

Growth rate	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
SD-R	100,0	109,2	119,4	126,0	133,0
TWS	100,0	105,7	109,2	109,9	113,5
EAS-only	100,0	107,2	113,5	116,1	123,1
JCP	100,0	113,2	121,7	119,0	121,8
LIM	100	103,3	106,1	106,5	106,8

Growth rate - Program period

Growth rate	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
SD-R	78,8	104,5
TWS	76,5	97,5
EAS-only	81,4	101,7
JCP	66,9	117,0
LIM	108,3	110,3

Growth rate - Post-program period

Growth rate	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
SD-R	139,5	153,9	155,9
TWS	110,1	115,1	114,6
EAS-only	113,6	116,5	n/a
JCP	137,7	145,0	138,1151
LIM	110,8	112,6	113,9

Notes: Low income measures (LIMs) after tax are set at 50% of adjusted median household income, for an individual person
EAS-only does not have an extended program period. One-year post start period is outside of the program period.
Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0232-01 Low income measure (LIM) thresholds by income source and household size
Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted

Effect of LMDAs on poverty in 4 cities

The Market Basket Measure (MBM) is Canada's official poverty line. It measures thresholds of poverty based on a basket of goods representing a basic standard of living^{Footnote 34} . The basket is the cost of food, clothing, shelter^{Footnote 35} , transportation and other necessities^{Footnote 36}  determined for an individual (see Definitions box for adjustment.) The poverty analysis in this report is limited to income, the MBM, and labour market information. Poverty is a much more complex issue that involves wide-ranging social elements, which cannot be covered within the scope of this report. Participants are considered to be living in poverty if their total income falls below the MBM threshold.

General outcomes from LMDAs from 4 cities were selected to see the effects of labour market programs on poverty in various jurisdictions. Vancouver was chosen for the pressures on the housing market, which drove up the cost-of-living. Toronto was included as the largest city in Canada. Halifax and Montreal were both included as large, urban centres that did not have the same housing pressures as Vancouver or Toronto.

The outcomes of labour market programs are interrelated with regional economic factors, such as unemployment, labour market tightness and cost-of-living. All of these factors work together to affect claimants' progress after job loss. For background, the job vacancy rate and unemployment rate from April to June in 2015 and 2016 (2015Q2 and 2016Q2) provide context to local labour market tightness in the last two years post-program. In addition, regional unemployment rates from 2006 to 2016 frame the economic environment during the program and recovery period. Please note, the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS) started in 2015Q1, therefore, previous time periods are not available. The time periods for labour market tightness are as closely matched to the outcomes period as possible (the two final post-period years). Labour market tightness is the gap between the supply and demand of labour. The labour market is tighter when the gap is smaller.

Chart 45 – Text version

Location	Unemployment rate	Job vacancy rate
Canada (3.0)	7,1	2,9
Halifax (2.6)	6,9	3,3
Montreal (4.9)	10,6	2
Toronto (2.8)	7,2	3,1
Lower Mainland-Southwest (2.1)	6,1	3,3

Note: Unemployment-to-vacancy ratio (UV) ratio indicates the number of unemployed for every job vacancy (in brackets).

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0293-01 Labour force characteristics by economic region, 3-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 months, Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0356-01 Job vacancies and average offered hourly wage by occupation (broad occupational category), quarterly, unadjusted for seasonality, Claveau, G., Employment and Social Development Canada (2020, January 22), pp. 6-10.

Chart 46 – Text version

Location	Unemployment rate	Job vacancy rate
Canada (3.6)	7,3	2,5
Halifax (3.7)	6,5	2,2
Montreal (4.8)	10,4	2,1
Toronto (2.9)	7,0	2,8
Lower Mainland-Southwest (2.0)	5,7	3,4

Note: Unemployment-to-vacancy ratio (UV) ratio indicates the number of unemployed for every job vacancy (in brackets).
Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0293-01 Labour force characteristics by economic region, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 months, Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0356-01 Job vacancies and average offered hourly wage by occupation (broad occupational category), quarterly, unadjusted for seasonality, Claveau, G., Employment and Social Development Canada (2020, January 22), pp. 6-10.

April to June in 2015 and 2016 (2015Q2 and 2016Q2) provide context to local labour market tightness in the last 2 years post‑program. In addition, regional unemployment rates from 2006 to 2016 frame the economic environment during the program and recovery period. Please note, the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS) started in 2015Q1, therefore, previous time periods are not available. The time periods for labour market tightness are as closely matched to the outcomes period as possible (the 2 final post-period years). Labour market tightness is the gap between the supply and demand of labour. The labour market is tighter when the gap is smaller.

Overall, LMDAs help people get out of poverty after job loss, and provide the tools to overcome obstacles in the job market. However, the effects of program participation are dampened if there are multiple setbacks in the region. In all four jurisdictions, the total income of LMDA participants closes the gap on poverty, and most groups rise above the poverty line after participation. Different programs had different outcomes in each of the four jurisdictions.

Halifax

Three out of 4 LMDA groups left poverty after job loss, while the remaining closed the gap on poverty (Chart 47). In Halifax, the poverty threshold (the basic cost-of-living) was below $20,000 per year; making this the second most affordable city (Montreal had a lower cost-of-living). Between 2006 and 2016, the unemployment rate in Halifax averaged 1.1 percentage points below that of Canada, meaning there were fewer unemployed Haligonians compared to the national average, and labour was scarce (Chart 48).

In 2015Q2, Halifax had a tight labour market (Chart 45). There were more vacant jobs, and fewer available workers than for Canada (around 2.6 unemployed workers for every available job in Halifax, versus an unemployment-to-vacancy (UV) ratio of 3.0 for Canada). A tight labour market allows workers to leverage their skills and experience to negotiate higher wages and better working conditions. In 2016Q2, the labour market in Halifax moved to an efficient labour market. While both the unemployment rate and job vacancy rate decreased year-over-year, the largest movement was a 1.1 percentage point drop in the job vacancy rate (from 3.3% in 2015Q2 to 2.2% in 2016Q2). The labour supply moved in line with demand, where the UV ratio for Halifax was 3.7, compared to 3.6 for Canada (Chart 46).

The combination of lower cost‑of‑living, low unemployment rate, and an efficient labour market enabled successful transitions back to work for claimants after participation in LMDA-funded programs. Participation in SD and TWS programs had more impact than EAS-only interventions. Total income for active claimants from these programs moved further out of poverty and surpassed their highest pre‑program income after participation. While total income for JCP remained under the poverty threshold, income rose steadily after program participation, and closed the gap on poverty.

Total income for active claimants who participated in SD programs recovered quickly within the first year after participation, from $11,434 (41.5% below the poverty line) during the start of the program period, to $23,000 (19.5% above the poverty line) 1 year post-program. Income continued to move away from poverty to $27,495, 3 years after participation (42.2% above poverty). Overall, total income for SD participants increased by 42.4% from 5 years before participation, to 3 years after participation ($19,302 to $27,495).

Chart 47 – Text version

Pre-program period

LMDA	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
EAS-only	$20 666	$22 621	$24 132	$25 618	$26 278
JCP	$14 708	$14 647	$17 120	$20 671	$19 873
SD	$19 302	$21 537	$23 540	$25 832	$27 027
TWS	$20 111	$21 715	$25 886	$32 293	$30 547
MBM threshold	$19 761	$19 529	$19 316	$19 711	$19 350

Program period

LMDA	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
EAS-only	$15 267	$21 179
JCP	$6 518	$12 516
SD	$11 434	$13 573
TWS	$21 374	$31 185
MBM threshold	$19 535	$19 440

Post-program period

LMDA	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
EAS-only	$23 991	$24 935	n/a
JCP	$15 242	$16 375	$18 224
SD	$23 000	$27 119	$27 495
TWS	$35 240	$36 787	$36 442
MBM threshold	$19 243	$19 044	$19 329

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0066-01 Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for the reference family by Market Basket Measure region, component and base year Statistics Canada, Income Statistics Division, Table 4.5, Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for economic families and persons not in economic families, 2015 Dictionary Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted 

Total income for active claimants in TWS programs did not fall into poverty at the time of job loss. However, there was a similar trajectory as the other labour market programs in Halifax, with a quick recovery after program participation, and a rise away from poverty. Total income bounced back after job loss by 70.5%, from $21,374 at the start of the program, to $36,442 3 years after participation. Overall, total income for TWS participants continued to move above poverty, with an 81.2% increase in total income, from $20,111 5 years before job loss, to $36,442 3 years after participation.

Chart 48 – Text version

Unemployment rates: Pre-program period

Halifax/Canada	5 years pre (Jan 2006 to Apr 2007)	4 years pre (Jan 2007 to Apr 2008)	3 years pre (Jan 2008 to Apr 2009)	2 years pre (Jan 2009 to Apr 2010)	1 year pre (Jan 2010 to Apr 2011)
Canada	6,3	6,1	6,5	8,2	8,0
Halifax	5,2	5,3	5,3	6,4	6,5

Unemployment rates: Program period

Halifax/Canada	Start year (Jan 2011 to Apr 2012)	1 year post start year (Jan 2012 to Apr 2013)
Canada	7,5	7,3
Halifax	6,3	6,3

Unemployment rates: Post-program period

Halifax/Canada	1 year post (Jan 2013 to Apr 2014)	2 years post (Jan 2014 to Apr 2015)	3 years post (Jan 2015 to Apr 2016)
Canada	7,1	6,9	6,9
Halifax	6,3	6,1	6,2

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, 3 month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months.

While total income for active claimants in JCP programs remained mostly below the poverty line, income rose steadily after program participation, to close the gap on poverty. At the time of job loss and the start year of program participation, income fell to $6,518 (66.6% below the poverty threshold). After program participation, there was a strong and continued income rise, closing the gap on poverty to 5.7% below the poverty line ($18,224) 3 years after program participation. Total income increased overall by 23.9%, from $14,708 5 years before participation to $18,224 3 years after participation.

Total income for those who only had EAS interventions followed the same trajectory as the other programs. At the time of job loss/start of the intervention period, total income fell 21.8% below the poverty threshold ($15,267), but recovered to 8.9% above poverty ($21,179) within the first year after intervention. Income climbed to 30.9% above poverty ($24,935) 2 years after the program period. From the program start year to 2 years after intervention, income increased by 63.3%, from $15,267 to $24,935. Overall, total income for those with EAS‑only interventions increased by 20.7%, from $20,666 5 years before job loss, to $24,935 2 years after intervention. While total income for those in the EAS-only group fell below the poverty line at the time of job loss, this group left the poverty threshold within 1 year after the start period.

Montreal

While total income for active claimants who participated in labour market programs dropped below the poverty line at the time of job loss/program start year, all participants left poverty within 1 year of participation (Chart 49), despite adverse labour market conditions.

Chart 49 – Text version

Pre-program period

LMDA	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
EAS-only	$21 000	$22 147	$23 305	$24 071	$26 718
SD	$17 741	$19 705	$21 672	$23 772	$25 007
TWS	$19 363	$21 552	$22 277	$22 977	$24 010
MBM threshold	$17 912	$17 693	$17 578	$17 791	$17 582

Program period

LMDA	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
EAS-only	$16 455	$18 858
SD	$14 288	$18 451
TWS	$17 176	$22 081
MBM threshold	$17 876	$17 861

Post-program period

LMDA	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
EAS-only	$21 250	$21 781	-
SD	$24 802	$26 949	$27 722
TWS	$23 641	$24 159	$23 193
MBM threshold	$17 890	$17 876	$18 022

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0066-01 Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for the reference family by Market Basket Measure region, component and base year Statistics Canada, Income Statistics Division, Table 4.5, Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for economic families and persons not in economic families, 2015 Dictionary Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted 

Chart 50 – Text version

Pre-program period

Montreal/Canada	5 years pre (Jan 2006 to Apr 2007)	4 years pre (Jan 2007 to Apr 2008)	3 years pre (Jan 2008 to Apr 2009)	2 years pre (Jan 2009 to Apr 2010)	1 year pre (Jan 2010 to Apr 2011)
Canada	6,3	6,1	6,5	8,2	8,0
Montreal	8,1	7,0	7,7	9,2	8,7

Program period

Montreal/Canada	Start year (Jan 2011 to Apr 2012)	1 year post start year (Jan 2012 to Apr 2013)
Canada	7,5	7,3
Montreal	8,2	8,4

Post-program period

Montreal/Canada	1 year post (Jan 2013 to Apr 2014)	2 years post (Jan 2014 to Apr 2015)	3 years post (Jan 2015 to Apr 2016)
Canada	7,1	6,9	6,9
Montreal	8,0	8,3	8,3

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, 3 month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months. 

Montreal had an unfavourable labour market between 2006 and 2016. The unemployment rate remained around 1.1 percentage points above Canada during this period (see Chart 50). Montreal also had a slack labour market in 2015Q2 and 2016Q2 (see Charts 45 and 46). The local UV ratio remained higher than the national ratio year-over-year, with 4.9 unemployed people for every vacant job in 2015Q2, and 4.8 unemployed per vacancy in 2016Q2. With higher numbers of unemployed workers competing for fewer available jobs, these obstacles created barriers for active claimants returning to the job market.

However, the poverty threshold - cost-of-living - for Montreal hovered around $17,800, making this the most affordable city to live in. The low cost-of-living may have offset the loose labour market and enabled labour market participants to benefit from their programs, recover quickly and leave poverty within a year of program participation.

The program with the strongest trajectory out of poverty is SD-R. While total income for this group started below the poverty line, and fell the lowest at the time of job loss/program start year, it had the strongest growth rate after program participation and surpassed its highest pre-program income within 2 years of participation. Five years before starting the program, total income for SD participants was 1.0% below poverty ($17,741), and fell 20.1% further ($14,288) during the program start year. However, total income for SD participants rose 3.3% above the poverty line while still within the program period ($18,451 1 year post-start year), and rose 53.8% above poverty 3 years post‑participation ($27,722). Total income from start of program to 3 years post-program grew 94.0%, from $14,288 to $27,722. Overall, total income for SD participants rose by 56.3%, from $17,741 5 years before participation, to $27,722 3 years after participation. Total post-participation income exceeded the highest pre-participation income by 10.9%, from $25,007 to $27,722.

Total income for TWS participants fell into poverty at the time of job loss/program start year (3.9% below the poverty line). However, total income recovered quickly, and was 23.6% above the poverty line within 1 year after starting the program. In the first year after program participation, total income was 32.1% above the poverty line, and has remained consistently above poverty since program participation. Total income for TWS participants increased 35.0% from program start year ($17,176) to 3 years after participation ($24,159), and increased 19.8% overall from 5 years before participation ($19,363).

While those who only received EAS intervention had the highest total income before job loss, income for this group did not return to this level after intervention and recovery. At the time of job loss/intervention start year, total income dropped 7.9% ($16,455 EAS to $17,876 MBM) below the poverty line. While income for this group left poverty within 1 year of intervention, this recovery was slower than groups with more intensive program supports, with total income increasing to 21.8% above poverty 2 years after intervention ($21,781 EAS to $17,876 MBM).

Toronto

The basic cost-of-living in Toronto averaged above $21,000 from 2006 to 2016, making this the most expensive city to live in compared to Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax. In addition, the unemployment rate in Toronto was higher than the national average for 10 years (+0.8 percentage points) between 2006 and 2016. As well, the participation rate in Toronto fell 3.6 percentage points from January 2006 (68.0%) to December 2016 (65.6%). While Toronto moved from an inefficient and mismatched labour market in 2015Q2 (high supply + high demand) to a tight labour market in 2016A2 (low supply + high demand) (see Charts 45 and 46), the move was small and was partly due to an increase in the national average unemployment rate. The job vacancy rate in Toronto dropped from 3.1% in 2015Q2 to 2.8% 2016Q2. The UV ratio, the number of unemployed workers to job vacancies, in Toronto remained lower than for Canada. In 2015Q2, there were 2.8 unemployed workers per job vacancy in Toronto, and in 2016Q2 the UV ratio was 2.9.

Multiple economic and social barriers created a more challenging environment for active claimants to recover from job loss and leave poverty after participation in labour market programs. None of the groups regained their highest income levels prior to job loss within the post-program period (Chart 51).

Chart 51 – Text version

Pre-program period

LMDA	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
EAS-only	$24,936	$26,669	$28,606	$29,463	$29,165
JCP	$27,341	$27,971	$26,892	$29,873	$19,713
SD	$24,159	$25,761	$27,769	$29,008	$26,829
TWS	$23,516	$25,153	$25,761	$26,408	$27,151
MBM threshold	$21,922	$21,582	$21,426	$21,539	$21,189

Program period

LMDA	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
EAS-only	$15,915	$21,830
JCP	$7,203	$18,502
SD	$7,883	$11,381
TWS	$15,307	$19,591
MBM threshold	$21,340	$21,306

Post-program period

LMDA	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
EAS-only	$24,867	$26,113	n/a
JCP	$23,469	$23,198	$25,828
SD	$19,156	$23,013	$24,697
TWS	$23,490	$24,731	$25,194
MBM threshold	$21,156	$21,078	$21,184

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0066-01 Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for the reference family by Market Basket Measure region, component and base year Statistics Canada, Income Statistics Division, Table 4.5, Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for economic families and persons not in economic families, 2015 Dictionary Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted

Chart 52 – Text version

Pre-program period

Canada/Toronto	5 years pre (Jan 2006 to Apr 2007)	4 years pre (Jan 2007 to Apr 2008)	3 years pre (Jan 2008 to Apr 2009)	2 years pre (Jan 2009 to Apr 2010)	1 year pre (Jan 2010 to Apr 2011)
Canada	6,3	6,1	6,5	8,2	8,0
Toronto	6,6	6,8	7,3	9,4	9,0

Program period

Canada/Toronto	Start year (Jan 2011 to Apr 2012)	1 year post start year (Jan 2012 to Apr 2013)
Canada	7,5	7,3
Toronto	8,4	8,6

Post-program period

Canada/Toronto	1 year post (Jan 2013 to Apr 2014)	2 years post (Jan 2014 to Apr 2015)	3 years post (Jan 2015 to Apr 2016)
Canada	7,1	6,9	6,9
Toronto	8,1	7,9	7,1

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, 3 month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months. 

Total income for active EI claimants who participated in SD programs fell 63.1% below the poverty line after job loss/start year of program participation ($7,883 SD to $21,306 MBM). While income started to recover after the start year, active EI claimants did not leave poverty until 2 years after program participation, 9.2% above the poverty line ($23,013 SD to $21,078 MBM). Income for SD participants continued to rise, reaching 16.6% above poverty 3 years after participation ($24,697 SD to $21,184 MBM).

Similarly, total income for EI claimants who participated in TWS programming fell 28.3% below poverty during job loss/start of program period ($15,307 TWS to $21,340 MBM). However, income for TWS rose 11.0% out of poverty within the first year post-program ($23,490 TWS to $21,156 MBM) and remained above poverty for the 3 years after program participation. After program participation, income increased 64.6% from $15,307 (program start year) to $25,194 (3 years after participation).

Unlike the other groups, total income for active claimants in JCP programs in Toronto fell 7.0% below poverty the year before the program start year ($19,713 JCP to $21,189 MBM). During the start of the program period, income fell further to 66.2% below poverty ($7,203 JCP to $$21,340 MBM). Income started to recover after the first year post-program, rising 10.9% above poverty ($23,469 JCP to $21,156 MBM). Total income for JCP participants remained above poverty throughout the post-program period, rising 21.9% above poverty by the third year post-program ($25,828 JCP to $21,184 MBM).

As EAS-only claimants are the most job ready, active claimants in Toronto recovered the fastest after job loss. While income fell 25.4% below the poverty line after job loss/intervention start year ($15,915 EAS to $21,340 MBM), income for this group recovered to 2.5% above poverty ($21,830 EAS to $21,306 MBM) within the first year after intervention. Total income post-intervention remains above poverty, increasing to 23.9% above poverty 3 years after intervention ($26,113 EAS to $21,078 MBM).

Vancouver

While Vancouver had a high basic cost-of-living, averaging above $20,000 between 2006 and 2016, the low unemployment rate and tight job market enabled a fast recovery after job loss (see Charts 45 and 46). Between 2006 and 2016, the average unemployment rate in Vancouver was 1.1 percentage points lower than the national average (6.0% to 7.1%), and the UV rate, the number of unemployed workers to job vacancies, in the Lower Mainland‑Southwest (this includes Vancouver) remained lower than Canada in both years (2.6 to 3.0 in 2015Q2 and 2.0 to 3.6 in 2016Q2). The combination of low unemployment (scarcity of job-seeking workers) plus high job vacancies (high demand for workers) contributed to the success of active claimants after program participation and may have allowed active claimants to leverage newly acquired skills. The labour market effect was strong enough to offset the high cost-of-living, and participants surpassed their highest income level prior to job loss (Chart 53).

Chart 53 – Text version

Pre-program period

LMDA	5 years pre (2006 to 2007)	4 years pre (2007 to 2008)	3 years pre (2008 to 2009)	2 years pre (2009 to 2010)	1 year pre (2010 to 2011)
EAS-only	$22 941	$25 451	$27 749	$28 330	$28 643
JCP	$17 665	$21 627	$23 484	$26 267	$28 084
SD	$19 938	$23 018	$26 544	$28 372	$28 724
TWS	$24 749	$26 995	$28 799	$27 521	$28 705
MBM threshold	$20 754	$20 438	$20 363	$20 593	$20 253

Program period

LMDA	Start year (2011 to 2012)	1 year post start year (2012 to 2013)
EAS-only	$16 359	$21 796
JCP	$10 764	$24 568
SD	$12 618	$14 688
TWS	$19 635	$28 069
MBM threshold	$20 391	$20 434

Post-program period

LMDA	1 year post (2013 to 2014)	2 years post (2014 to 2015)	3 years post (2015 to 2016)
EAS-only	$25 222	$26 306	-
JCP	$32 347	$34 086	$30 859
SD	$25 094	$29 067	$29 528
TWS	$28 972	$31 372	$31 159
MBM threshold	$20 649	$20 675	$20 776

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 11-10-0066-01 Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for the reference family by Market Basket Measure region, component and base year Statistics Canada, Income Statistics Division, Table 4.5, Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for economic families and persons not in economic families, 2015 Dictionary Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0005-01 Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted

Chart 54 – Text version

Pre-program period

Canada/Vancouver	5 years pre (Jan 2006 to Apr 2007)	4 years pre (Jan 2007 to Apr 2008)	3 years pre (Jan 2008 to Apr 2009)	2 years pre (Jan 2009 to Apr 2010)	1 year pre (Jan 2010 to Apr 2011)
Canada	6,3	6,1	6,5	8,2	8,0
Vancouver	4,3	4,1	4,7	7,1	7,4

Program period

Canada/Vancouver	Start year (Jan 2011 to Apr 2012)	1 year post start year (Jan 2012 to Apr 2013)
Canada	7,5	7,3
Vancouver	7,3	6,8

Post-program period

Canada/Vancouver	1 year post (Jan 2013 to Apr 2014)	2 years post (Jan 2014 to Apr 2015)	3 years post (Jan 2015 to Apr 2016)
Canada	7,1	6,9	6,9
Vancouver	6,5	5,9	5,8

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, 3 month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months.

While total income for active claimants who participated in SD programs remained in poverty longer during the program period, this may be accounted for by the longer duration of SD programs. Total income fell 38.1% below the poverty line during the time of job loss/start of program period ($12,618 SD to $20,391 MBM), but rose 21.5% above poverty in the first year after program participation ($25,094 SD to $20,649 MBM). Total income climbed to 42.1% above poverty 3 years after program participation ($29,528 SD to $20,776 MBM), higher than the pre-program income level.

Total income for active claimants in TWS programs fell 3.7% below the poverty line during the start year of the program period ($19,635 TWS to $20,391 MBM). However, income recovered quickly, rising 37.4% above the poverty line within 1 year after starting the program ($28,069 TWS to $20,434 MBM). Three years after program participation, total income surpassed the highest pre-program levels, with total income reaching $31,159 (50.0% above the poverty line).

Total income for active claimants who participated in JCP programs also left poverty within the program period within one year after the start of the program. Income rose from $10,764 (47.2% below the poverty line) during the start year to $24,568 (20.2% above the poverty line), 1 year post-start. Total income continued to rise above poverty following program participation, where income 2 years after participation ($34,086) exceeded the highest income level before job loss.

While total income for active claimants who only received EAS interventions in Vancouver recovered and left poverty quickly, the post-intervention income level never regained the highest income level prior to job loss. At the start of the intervention period, income for EAS-only participants dropped 19.8% below the poverty line ($16,359 EAS-only to $20,391 MBM). In the first 5 after intervention, total income rose 6.7% above poverty ($21,796 EAS-only to $20,434 MBM) and remained 27.2% above poverty 3 years following intervention ($26,306 EAS-only to $20,675 MBM).

Conclusion

LMDAs help active claimants recover from job loss, leave poverty, and in some cases, surpass their highest income level prior to participation. Labour market programs not only provide the tools for participants to transition back into employment, they help buffer against socio‑economic obstacles, such as slack labour markets and high costs-of-living.

Successful transitions out of poverty are the result of a combination of factors, such as the program stream, the degree of intensity in the program and outside factors such as a low cost-of-living and available labour market opportunities. While it is clear that regions with relatively more opportunities and fewer barriers provide greater success after program participation, there is evidence that LMDA‑funded programs act as a buffer against economic challenges. The recovery speed of participants returning to employment, and regaining (in some cases surpassing) previous income levels in regions with difficult economic climates, shows that LMDAs provide the tools to return to work and protect against socio-economic challenges.

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Sectoral Initiatives Program (SIP)

The objective of the Sectoral Initiatives Program (SIP) is to help key sectors of the Canadian economy identify, forecast and address their human resources and skills issues.

The Program supports sectors and employers to address current and future skills shortages through the development and distribution of sector-specific labour market intelligence, national occupational standards, and skills certification and accreditation systems. The Program also supports innovative workforce development approaches, including those targeting under-represented groups.

SIP's key stakeholders are primarily partnership-based organizations engaged in skills and workforce development in their respective economic sectors or employment groups across Canada. These include:

• employer consortia and Sector Councils
• workplace organizations
• industry associations
• unions
• education and training bodies
• professional associations, and
• Indigenous organizations

In FY1819, SIP funded 41 multi-year agreements for projects implemented by various stakeholders representing different industry sectors. Products included: labour market information and/or forecasting systems (66% of projects); NOS (27%); certification and accreditation (2%); and creative labour market solutions (5%) producing curricula or training programs and labour market solution pilot project reports. Among them, several projects were cross-sectoral or focused on the construction, environment, tourism, mining, transportation, oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture, aerospace and information technology sectors.

According to program data on FY1819 product users, 51% of respondents reported that SIP products were used by more than 135,939 users, which include LMI newsletter subscribers but not social media subscribers. The number of users is likely higher as LMI products are shared with members of other organizations who are stakeholders of program recipients.

Furthermore, in FY1819, the program recipients succeeded in leveraging $4.8 million or about 23% of program expenditures from the private sector and other stakeholders.

SIP achieved or progressed towards its priorities by:

• developing sectoral expertise and building intelligence on existing and additional strategic sectors experiencing labour market tightness
• engaging industry on emerging skills gaps in order to exchange information and serve as a platform for Government‑Industry/Employer Collaboration in support of key Government of Canada sectoral strategies and programs (for example, Digital Economy Strategy, Green Jobs, Tourism Vision). SIP's industry partners are also serving as delivery partners for Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy internship program
• supporting a pilot project under the Employer Liaison Services activity area to help employers better connect with EI claimants and under-represented groups in order to solve mismatches and shortages at both ends of the skills spectrum
• collecting data on available outputs and outcomes from FY1718
• responding to the evaluation published in August 2018 and consulting recipients regarding options to improve the program's performance measurement system
• exploring possible future directions for program design to allow the program to continue to improve and evolve in response to changing labour market conditions and priorities
• increasing efforts in disseminating sectoral labour market intelligence and other products (NOS, certification, accreditation) to improve awareness and use among external and internal stakeholders, as well as to increase application and integration of SIP-funded products into programs and activities