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Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

  • First-time recipients
    6,730
  • Active recipients
    1,104,540
  • Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2026
    1.13 billion

All data is updated weekly and is current as of April 19, 2026

Notes
  • First-time recipients are individuals receiving an EI payment for the first time since April 1, 2026.
  • Active recipients are individuals currently receiving EI payments
  • Total gross benefit dollars are cumulative since April 1, 2026

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List of tables

Application processing statistics

Table 1: EI application processing statistics
Employment Insurance (EI) program Week starting on April 13, 2026 Cumulative from April 1, 2026
Registered applications 48,720 148,050
Processed applications 52,090 145,650
Claims established (approved applications) 40,650 108,300
Recipients Not applicable 914,160
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, 2026
  • 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, 2026
Regular 743,080 595,160
Sickness 132,870 96,040
Fishing 14,440 15,250
Maternity and parental 205,690 201,190
Caregiving 8,000 5,570
Self employed 1,160 950
Total 1,104,540 914,160
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, 2026
Regular 6,848.23 720.79
Sickness 997.77 111.60
Fishing 174.26 20.98
Maternity and parental 3,179.31 272.43
Caregiving 57.46 7.41
Self employed 12.59 0.89
Total 11,269.62 1,134.11
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 3,820 8,090 8,340 10,050 14,620 6,520 51,450
Prince Edward Island 1,530 3,120 2,490 2,380 3,000 1,900 14,420
Nova Scotia 3,530 11,500 8,970 7,210 8,780 3,780 43,770
New Brunswick 4,090 11,340 10,090 10,020 12,670 5,150 53,370
Quebec 16,760 51,490 55,160 48,310 52,650 19,890 244,260
Ontario 27,480 137,200 93,850 52,230 52,490 16,320 379,570
Manitoba 3,910 12,870 9,070 5,700 5,080 1,660 38,280
Saskatchewan 2,950 9,790 6,900 4,080 3,680 1,670 29,060
Alberta 11,450 43,650 31,840 17,220 14,460 4,730 123,350
British Columbia 8,620 42,320 32,710 17,020 16,630 5,910 123,200
Yukon 120 450 390 140 130 70 1,300
Northwest Territories 100 400 300 140 130 50 1,110
Nunavut 70 170 150 90 60 20 570
Not Applicable 70 480 260 40 20 20 880
Total 84,500 332,870 260,510 174,610 184,410 67,680 1,104,540

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 7.4% 15.7% 16.2% 19.5% 28.4% 12.7% 4.7%
Prince Edward Island 10.6% 21.6% 17.2% 16.5% 20.8% 13.2% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 8.1% 26.3% 20.5% 16.5% 20.1% 8.6% 4.0%
New Brunswick 7.7% 21.2% 18.9% 18.8% 23.7% 9.7% 4.8%
Quebec 6.9% 21.1% 22.6% 19.8% 21.6% 8.1% 22.1%
Ontario 7.2% 36.1% 24.7% 13.8% 13.8% 4.3% 34.4%
Manitoba 10.2% 33.6% 23.7% 14.9% 13.3% 4.3% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 10.2% 33.7% 23.7% 14.0% 12.7% 5.7% 2.6%
Alberta 9.3% 35.4% 25.8% 14.0% 11.7% 3.8% 11.2%
British Columbia 7.0% 34.3% 26.6% 13.8% 13.5% 4.8% 11.2%
Yukon 9.3% 34.7% 29.7% 10.6% 10.3% 5.4% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 8.5% 36.0% 27.0% 12.8% 11.5% 4.2% 0.1%
Nunavut 12.0% 30.6% 27.1% 16.1% 10.6% 3.5% 0.1%
Not Applicable 7.4% 54.7% 29.1% 4.3% 2.3% 2.3% 0.1%
Total 7.6% 30.1% 23.6% 15.8% 16.7% 6.1% 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 37.38 94.37 89.42 104.40 154.06 72.08 551.71
Prince Edward Island 15.84 37.41 28.28 26.10 32.27 21.08 160.99
Nova Scotia 28.87 129.07 92.88 66.59 79.90 35.29 432.60
New Brunswick 37.01 123.81 97.79 90.53 119.05 51.89 520.07
Quebec 114.57 401.06 437.67 389.42 440.41 170.71 1,953.83
Ontario 231.06 1,694.29 1,089.03 492.53 491.51 148.14 4,146.56
Manitoba 32.90 148.19 93.99 47.84 43.69 15.72 382.33
Saskatchewan 27.57 124.38 76.71 39.18 36.41 17.05 321.29
Alberta 102.01 547.57 375.89 180.50 154.03 50.66 1,410.65
British Columbia 71.42 521.47 377.17 160.78 158.01 56.85 1,345.69
Yukon 1.15 5.97 4.87 1.52 1.58 0.78 15.89
Northwest Territories 1.00 5.40 3.94 1.72 1.50 0.57 14.13
Nunavut 0.84 2.42 1.92 1.07 0.74 0.13 7.12
Not Applicable 0.41 3.73 2.20 0.32 0.08 0.02 6.76
Total 702.02 3,839.13 2,771.77 1,602.49 1,713.23 640.97 11,269.62

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 6.8% 17.1% 16.2% 18.9% 27.9% 13.1% 4.9%
Prince Edward Island 9.8% 23.2% 17.6% 16.2% 20.0% 13.1% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 6.7% 29.8% 21.5% 15.4% 18.5% 8.2% 3.8%
New Brunswick 7.1% 23.8% 18.8% 17.4% 22.9% 10.0% 4.6%
Quebec 5.9% 20.5% 22.4% 19.9% 22.5% 8.7% 17.3%
Ontario 5.6% 40.9% 26.3% 11.9% 11.9% 3.6% 36.8%
Manitoba 8.6% 38.8% 24.6% 12.5% 11.4% 4.1% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 8.6% 38.7% 23.9% 12.2% 11.3% 5.3% 2.9%
Alberta 7.2% 38.8% 26.6% 12.8% 10.9% 3.6% 12.5%
British Columbia 5.3% 38.8% 28.0% 11.9% 11.7% 4.2% 11.9%
Yukon 7.3% 37.6% 30.7% 9.6% 10.0% 4.9% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 7.1% 38.2% 27.9% 12.2% 10.6% 4.0% 0.1%
Nunavut 11.8% 34.0% 27.0% 15.0% 10.4% 1.8% 0.1%
Not Applicable 6.0% 55.1% 32.6% 4.8% 1.2% 0.3% 0.1%
Total 6.2% 34.1% 24.6% 14.2% 15.2% 5.7% 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 20,410 31,040 51,450
Prince Edward Island 5,910 8,520 14,420
Nova Scotia 18,530 25,240 43,770
New Brunswick 22,090 31,280 53,370
Quebec 79,750 164,510 244,260
Ontario 197,630 181,940 379,570
Manitoba 18,320 19,960 38,280
Saskatchewan 14,240 14,820 29,060
Alberta 60,450 62,900 123,350
British Columbia 67,050 56,160 123,200
Yukon 660 640 1,300
Northwest Territories 540 580 1,110
Nunavut 280 280 560
Not Applicable 130 720 850
Total 505,960 598,580 1,104,540

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 39.7% 60.3% 4.7%
Prince Edward Island 41.0% 59.0% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 42.3% 57.7% 4.0%
New Brunswick 41.4% 58.6% 4.8%
Quebec 32.6% 67.4% 22.1%
Ontario 52.1% 47.9% 34.4%
Manitoba 47.9% 52.1% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 49.0% 51.0% 2.6%
Alberta 49.0% 51.0% 11.2%
British Columbia 54.4% 45.6% 11.2%
Yukon 50.7% 49.3% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 48.1% 51.9% 0.1%
Nunavut 49.7% 50.3% 0.1%
Not Applicable 15.6% 84.4% 0.1%
Total 45.8% 54.2% 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 220.96 330.75 551.71
Prince Edward Island 66.11 94.88 160.99
Nova Scotia 198.64 233.96 432.60
New Brunswick 212.56 307.51 520.07
Quebec 629.86 1,323.97 1,953.83
Ontario 2,453.55 1,693.01 4,146.56
Manitoba 209.81 172.53 382.33
Saskatchewan 174.53 146.76 321.29
Alberta 776.09 634.56 1,410.65
British Columbia 824.99 520.71 1,345.69
Yukon 9.41 6.48 15.89
Northwest Territories 7.90 6.23 14.13
Nunavut 3.99 3.13 7.12
Not Applicable 2.15 4.62 6.76
Total 5,790.54 5,479.08 11,269.62

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 40.1% 59.9% 4.9%
Prince Edward Island 41.1% 58.9% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 45.9% 54.1% 3.8%
New Brunswick 40.9% 59.1% 4.6%
Quebec 32.2% 67.8% 17.3%
Ontario 59.2% 40.8% 36.8%
Manitoba 54.9% 45.1% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 54.3% 45.7% 2.9%
Alberta 55.0% 45.0% 12.5%
British Columbia 61.3% 38.7% 11.9%
Yukon 59.3% 40.7% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 55.9% 44.1% 0.1%
Nunavut 56.0% 44.0% 0.1%
Not Applicable 31.8% 68.2% 0.1%
Total 51.4% 48.6% 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