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Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

  • First-time recipients
    8,360
  • Active recipients
    1,208,800
  • Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2025
    22.21 billion

All data is updated weekly and is current as of February 8, 2026

Notes
  • First-time recipients are individuals receiving an EI payment for the first time since April 1, 2025.
  • Active recipients are individuals currently receiving EI payments
  • Total gross benefit dollars are cumulative since April 1, 2025

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List of tables

Application processing statistics

Table 1: EI application processing statistics
Employment Insurance (EI) program Week starting on February 2, 2026 Cumulative from April 1, 2025
Registered applications 53,720 2,993,380
Processed applications 61,340 2,925,090
Claims established (approved applications) 50,470 2,185,060
Recipients Not applicable 2,600,790
Notes for table 1
  • A registered application removes unnecessary duplicate requests for EI benefits that some individuals submit. It represents actual requests for EI benefits and initiates the process of determining EI eligibility and entitlement
  • A processed application represents the adjudication of a registered application that results in an initial decision. Every registered application will be adjudicated; however, high volumes can cause a processing backlog where an application registered in one week may not be processed until a subsequent week
  • A claim established is a processed application with a decision to pay the claim as it met the criteria of the EI program. As not all processed applications meet the EI program criteria, the number of claims established will be less than the number of processed applications
  • A recipient is someone who receives at least one payment. To receive EI payments, a recipient must file their bi-weekly report. Each bi-weekly filing enables up to two weeks of EI payments in arrears depending on the content of the filing. An individual who never files their bi-weekly report will not receive a payment and therefore will not become a recipient. As payments are two weeks in arrears, the last completed EI week will never show any recipients
  • This data is operational in nature and will fluctuate over time. For any given week, the number of registered applications and processed applications will not be equal due to timing and volume
  • Cumulative totals are as of April 1, 2025
  • All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10

EI benefits statistics by type

Table 2: EI benefits – Number of recipients by benefit type
EI benefits Active recipients Cumulative recipients since April 1, 2025
Regular 852,790 1,781,810
Sickness 125,130 370,310
Fishing 16,280 21,980
Maternity and parental 206,390 415,750
Caregiving 7,760 27,250
Self employed 1,190 2,410
Total 1,208,800 2,600,790
Notes for table 2
  • A recipient is someone who receives at least one payment
  • Recipients can receive more than one type of benefit. For example, a recipient who is receiving EI maternity benefits can change to receive EI caregiving benefits. Regardless of which benefit type a recipient receives, they are only eligible to receive one benefit type per week
  • Active recipients represent individuals currently receiving EI payments
  • Cumulative recipients from April 1 represent individuals who started receiving EI payments since the beginning of the fiscal year
  • All values are rounded to the nearest 10 and are recalculated every week. Rounding may cause a small difference between the total and the sum of individual values
Table 3: EI benefits – Gross benefit paid to recipients by benefit type (millions)
EI benefits Gross benefit paid to active recipients Cumulative benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2025
Regular 6,265.66 14,154.89
Sickness 956.03 2,519.81
Fishing 114.41 359.87
Maternity and parental 3,188.90 4,981.08
Caregiving 57.03 174.65
Self employed 12.45 20.86
Total 10,594.47 22,211.12
Notes for table 3
  • Gross benefit paid (millions) represents the amount paid, before tax. EI deducts tax at source for all EI benefits. Rounding may cause a small difference between the total and the sum of individual values
  • Active recipients represent individuals currently receiving EI payments and gross benefit paid to active recipients represent the total amount paid to them
  • Cumulative benefit paid to recipients since April 1 represent the amount of EI paid to recipients this fiscal year
  • A recipient is someone who receives at least one payment

EI recipients statistics

Active recipients by province or territory and age group

Table 4: EI active recipients by province or territory and age group – Number of active recipients
Provinces and territories Under 25 25 - 34 Years 35 - 44 Years 45 - 54 Years 55 - 64 Years 65 and Older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 4,390 8,800 8,930 10,730 15,360 7,060 55,270
Prince Edward Island 2,440 3,330 2,600 2,480 3,170 2,080 16,100
Nova Scotia 4,070 12,340 9,680 8,010 9,530 4,240 47,870
New Brunswick 4,710 11,940 10,630 10,520 13,380 5,390 56,560
Quebec 21,440 63,240 66,410 55,610 58,480 23,180 288,360
Ontario 30,540 143,060 99,050 57,840 57,660 18,000 406,160
Manitoba 4,490 13,750 9,530 5,890 5,380 1,900 40,930
Saskatchewan 3,370 10,480 7,250 4,340 4,070 1,940 31,450
Alberta 12,300 45,870 33,200 18,430 15,720 5,300 130,800
British Columbia 9,450 44,610 34,100 18,180 18,040 6,600 130,970
Yukon 140 500 420 160 190 90 1,490
Northwest Territories 100 430 350 190 150 50 1,270
Nunavut 80 190 160 90 60 20 590
Not Applicable 80 540 300 60 20 20 1,020
Total 97,590 359,060 282,610 192,520 201,180 75,860 1,208,800

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Table 5: EI active recipients by province or territory and age group – Percentage of active recipients
Provinces and territories Under 25 25 - 34 Years 35 - 44 Years 45 - 54 Years 55 - 64 Years 65 and Older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 7.9% 15.9% 16.2% 19.4% 27.8% 12.8% 4.6%
Prince Edward Island 15.2% 20.7% 16.1% 15.4% 19.7% 12.9% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 8.5% 25.8% 20.2% 16.7% 19.9% 8.9% 4.0%
New Brunswick 8.3% 21.1% 18.8% 18.6% 23.7% 9.5% 4.7%
Quebec 7.4% 21.9% 23.0% 19.3% 20.3% 8.0% 23.9%
Ontario 7.5% 35.2% 24.4% 14.2% 14.2% 4.4% 33.6%
Manitoba 11.0% 33.6% 23.3% 14.4% 13.1% 4.6% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 10.7% 33.3% 23.1% 13.8% 12.9% 6.2% 2.6%
Alberta 9.4% 35.1% 25.4% 14.1% 12.0% 4.0% 10.8%
British Columbia 7.2% 34.1% 26.0% 13.9% 13.8% 5.0% 10.8%
Yukon 9.3% 33.2% 28.4% 10.9% 12.4% 5.8% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 8.0% 34.0% 27.3% 14.7% 11.9% 4.1% 0.1%
Nunavut 13.2% 31.4% 26.3% 15.7% 10.1% 3.4% 0.0%
Not Applicable 7.7% 53.0% 29.3% 6.0% 2.0% 2.0% 0.1%
Total 8.1% 29.7% 23.4% 15.9% 16.6% 6.3% 100.0%

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Table 6: EI gross benefit paid to active recipients by province or territory and age group – Gross benefit paid (millions)
Provinces and territories Under 25 25 - 34 Years 35 - 44 Years 45 - 54 Years 55 - 64 Years 65 and Older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 34.14 86.44 75.36 83.51 118.54 57.30 455.29
Prince Edward Island 20.20 32.70 22.53 18.93 23.25 15.59 133.19
Nova Scotia 28.15 124.46 87.43 61.61 69.99 31.07 402.72
New Brunswick 33.87 113.82 84.33 74.01 94.97 40.45 441.45
Quebec 110.35 377.77 402.25 353.05 389.93 154.66 1,788.00
Ontario 215.27 1,657.70 1,037.89 463.84 457.75 135.80 3,968.25
Manitoba 32.41 148.29 89.78 44.04 39.11 14.45 368.08
Saskatchewan 27.18 123.50 72.97 36.48 34.02 14.98 309.14
Alberta 94.59 535.36 358.86 169.15 145.37 46.95 1,350.28
British Columbia 70.31 523.95 375.02 156.32 152.30 54.52 1,332.42
Yukon 1.24 5.92 4.91 1.51 1.81 0.75 16.14
Northwest Territories 0.97 5.63 4.54 2.07 1.67 0.57 15.45
Nunavut 0.88 2.46 1.87 0.96 0.67 0.12 6.97
Not Applicable 0.46 3.68 2.31 0.44 0.12 0.07 7.09
Total 670.03 3,741.68 2,620.05 1,465.93 1,529.50 567.27 10,594.47

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Table 7: EI gross benefit paid to active recipients by province or territory and age group – Percentage of gross benefit
Provinces and territories Under 25 25 - 34 Years 35 - 44 Years 45 - 54 Years 55 - 64 Years 65 and Older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 7.5% 19.0% 16.6% 18.3% 26.0% 12.6% 4.3%
Prince Edward Island 15.2% 24.5% 16.9% 14.2% 17.5% 11.7% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 7.0% 30.9% 21.7% 15.3% 17.4% 7.7% 3.8%
New Brunswick 7.7% 25.8% 19.1% 16.8% 21.5% 9.2% 4.2%
Quebec 6.2% 21.1% 22.5% 19.7% 21.8% 8.6% 16.9%
Ontario 5.4% 41.8% 26.2% 11.7% 11.5% 3.4% 37.5%
Manitoba 8.8% 40.3% 24.4% 12.0% 10.6% 3.9% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 8.8% 39.9% 23.6% 11.8% 11.0% 4.8% 2.9%
Alberta 7.0% 39.6% 26.6% 12.5% 10.8% 3.5% 12.7%
British Columbia 5.3% 39.3% 28.1% 11.7% 11.4% 4.1% 12.6%
Yukon 7.7% 36.7% 30.4% 9.4% 11.2% 4.6% 0.2%
Northwest Territories 6.3% 36.4% 29.4% 13.4% 10.8% 3.7% 0.1%
Nunavut 12.6% 35.3% 26.9% 13.8% 9.7% 1.7% 0.1%
Not Applicable 6.6% 51.9% 32.6% 6.3% 1.7% 1.0% 0.1%
Total 6.3% 35.3% 24.7% 13.8% 14.4% 5.4% 100.0%

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Active recipients by province or territory and gender

Table 8: EI active recipients by province or territory and gender – Number of active recipients
Provinces and territories Female gender Male gender Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 22,050 33,210 55,270
Prince Edward Island 6,840 9,260 16,100
Nova Scotia 20,270 27,600 47,870
New Brunswick 23,450 33,120 56,560
Quebec 87,390 200,960 288,360
Ontario 208,510 197,650 406,160
Manitoba 18,930 21,990 40,930
Saskatchewan 14,740 16,700 31,450
Alberta 63,000 67,800 130,800
British Columbia 70,160 60,810 130,970
Yukon 720 770 1,490
Northwest Territories 580 690 1,270
Nunavut 300 280 590
Not Applicable 150 860 1,000
Total 537,100 671,710 1,208,800

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Table 9: EI active recipients by province or territory and gender – Percentage of active recipients
Provinces and territories Female gender Male gender Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 39.9% 60.1% 4.6%
Prince Edward Island 42.5% 57.5% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 42.3% 57.7% 4.0%
New Brunswick 41.5% 58.5% 4.7%
Quebec 30.3% 69.7% 23.9%
Ontario 51.3% 48.7% 33.6%
Manitoba 46.3% 53.7% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 46.9% 53.1% 2.6%
Alberta 48.2% 51.8% 10.8%
British Columbia 53.6% 46.4% 10.8%
Yukon 48.1% 51.9% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 45.5% 54.5% 0.1%
Nunavut 51.7% 48.3% 0.0%
Not Applicable 14.6% 85.4% 0.1%
Total 44.4% 55.6% 100.0%

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Table 10: EI gross benefit paid to active recipients by province or territory and gender – Gross benefit paid (millions)
Provinces and territories Female gender Male gender Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 198.77 256.52 455.29
Prince Edward Island 61.52 71.67 133.19
Nova Scotia 198.89 203.83 402.72
New Brunswick 200.13 241.32 441.45
Quebec 613.93 1,174.07 1,788.00
Ontario 2,479.02 1,489.23 3,968.25
Manitoba 212.31 155.77 368.08
Saskatchewan 177.48 131.66 309.14
Alberta 780.87 569.41 1,350.28
British Columbia 837.57 494.85 1,332.42
Yukon 9.70 6.44 16.14
Northwest Territories 8.46 6.99 15.45
Nunavut 4.43 2.54 6.97
Not Applicable 2.15 4.94 7.09
Total 5,785.22 4,809.25 10,594.47

Notes for tables 4 to 11

Table 11: EI gross benefit paid to active recipients by province or territory and gender – Percentage of gross benefit
Provinces and territories Female gender Male gender Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 43.7% 56.3% 4.3%
Prince Edward Island 46.2% 53.8% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 49.4% 50.6% 3.8%
New Brunswick 45.3% 54.7% 4.2%
Quebec 34.3% 65.7% 16.9%
Ontario 62.5% 37.5% 37.5%
Manitoba 57.7% 42.3% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 57.4% 42.6% 2.9%
Alberta 57.8% 42.2% 12.7%
British Columbia 62.9% 37.1% 12.6%
Yukon 60.1% 39.9% 0.2%
Northwest Territories 54.8% 45.2% 0.1%
Nunavut 63.6% 36.4% 0.1%
Not Applicable 30.3% 69.7% 0.1%
Total 54.6% 45.4% 100.0%
Notes for tables 4 to 11
  • A recipient is someone who receives at least one payment
  • All values for number of recipients are rounded to the nearest 10. Rounding may cause a small difference between the total and the sum of the active recipient values
  • Gross benefit paid (millions) represents the gross amount of benefits paid, before tax. EI deducts tax at source for all EI benefits. Rounding may cause a small difference between the total and the sum of individual values
  • Not applicable is used when a recipient provides an address outside of Canada. While the EI program requires individuals to reside inside Canada to qualify, some individuals may be currently out of the country on a temporary basis, or working in Canada on a temporary basis. For example:
    • a student who is temporarily abroad
    • someone temporarily working abroad, or
    • temporary worker who has fallen ill but their home address is in another country

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2026-01-29