Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

  • First-time recipients
    5,760
  • Active recipients
    1,003,590
  • Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2025
    11.95 billion

All data is updated weekly and is current as of September 28, 2025

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 September 22, 2025 Cumulative from April 1, 2025
Registered applications 46,380 1,556,160
Processed applications 49,820 1,532,350
Claims established (approved applications) 38,510 1,144,330
Recipients Not applicable 1,937,050
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 641,290 1,322,580
Sickness 133,230 257,060
Fishing 12,240 19,830
Maternity and parental 208,660 322,620
Caregiving 7,700 17,160
Self employed 1,170 1,810
Total 1,003,590 1,937,050
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 5,053.59 7,448.20
Sickness 1,003.51 1,431.21
Fishing 108.87 162.93
Maternity and parental 3,031.85 2,803.32
Caregiving 54.40 92.40
Self employed 11.54 11.43
Total 9,263.76 11,949.43
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 3,130 7,520 7,580 9,340 13,070 5,280 45,920
Prince Edward Island 1,320 2,390 1,880 1,750 2,120 1,130 10,600
Nova Scotia 2,920 10,550 8,420 6,830 8,150 3,420 40,290
New Brunswick 3,180 10,010 8,700 8,250 10,580 3,940 44,650
Quebec 12,510 46,050 50,990 44,520 46,240 16,080 216,390
Ontario 20,630 129,600 88,370 51,000 48,700 14,920 353,220
Manitoba 3,250 12,250 8,490 5,430 4,520 1,370 35,310
Saskatchewan 2,290 9,120 6,410 3,610 3,060 1,140 25,630
Alberta 8,500 39,320 29,410 16,520 13,270 4,060 111,090
British Columbia 6,920 40,640 31,870 17,070 15,510 5,180 117,190
Yukon 50 340 290 100 80 40 900
Northwest Territories 70 400 300 150 130 40 1,090
Nunavut 90 220 180 80 60 20 650
Not Applicable 40 350 220 50 20 20 690
Total 64,910 308,740 243,120 164,700 165,510 56,640 1,003,590

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 6.8% 16.4% 16.5% 20.3% 28.5% 11.5% 4.6%
Prince Edward Island 12.5% 22.5% 17.8% 16.5% 20.0% 10.7% 1.1%
Nova Scotia 7.3% 26.2% 20.9% 17.0% 20.2% 8.5% 4.0%
New Brunswick 7.1% 22.4% 19.5% 18.5% 23.7% 8.8% 4.4%
Quebec 5.8% 21.3% 23.6% 20.6% 21.4% 7.4% 21.6%
Ontario 5.8% 36.7% 25.0% 14.4% 13.8% 4.2% 35.2%
Manitoba 9.2% 34.7% 24.0% 15.4% 12.8% 3.9% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 9.0% 35.6% 25.0% 14.1% 11.9% 4.4% 2.6%
Alberta 7.7% 35.4% 26.5% 14.9% 11.9% 3.7% 11.1%
British Columbia 5.9% 34.7% 27.2% 14.6% 13.2% 4.4% 11.7%
Yukon 5.5% 37.5% 32.3% 10.8% 9.1% 4.8% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 6.7% 36.6% 27.5% 13.9% 12.0% 3.3% 0.1%
Nunavut 13.2% 33.5% 28.2% 12.9% 9.0% 3.2% 0.1%
Not Applicable 5.3% 50.4% 31.8% 6.6% 2.9% 2.9% 0.1%
Total 6.5% 30.8% 24.2% 16.4% 16.5% 5.6% 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 26.34 84.11 76.00 90.71 132.42 52.61 462.19
Prince Edward Island 7.69 25.26 17.85 16.04 19.77 10.57 97.18
Nova Scotia 21.84 111.80 78.83 55.91 68.31 27.71 364.40
New Brunswick 25.24 103.76 77.65 70.76 95.30 37.21 409.91
Quebec 69.63 300.23 337.61 301.17 334.10 115.48 1,458.21
Ontario 164.61 1,524.03 943.19 415.22 394.66 112.75 3,554.46
Manitoba 23.00 131.62 78.75 38.37 32.57 10.53 314.84
Saskatchewan 18.84 106.55 63.28 28.81 25.84 9.77 253.10
Alberta 68.21 464.01 309.50 141.55 117.98 35.33 1,136.59
British Columbia 53.68 475.12 339.65 138.71 128.85 42.80 1,178.80
Yukon 0.46 4.48 3.44 0.82 0.78 0.42 10.38
Northwest Territories 0.79 5.03 3.26 1.39 1.27 0.36 12.09
Nunavut 0.99 2.43 2.08 0.75 0.54 0.17 6.96
Not Applicable 0.22 2.46 1.57 0.29 0.10 0.01 4.66
Total 481.54 3,340.89 2,332.64 1,300.49 1,352.49 455.70 9,263.76

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 5.7% 18.2% 16.4% 19.6% 28.7% 11.4% 5.0%
Prince Edward Island 7.9% 26.0% 18.4% 16.5% 20.3% 10.9% 1.0%
Nova Scotia 6.0% 30.7% 21.6% 15.3% 18.7% 7.6% 3.9%
New Brunswick 6.2% 25.3% 18.9% 17.3% 23.2% 9.1% 4.4%
Quebec 4.8% 20.6% 23.2% 20.7% 22.9% 7.9% 15.7%
Ontario 4.6% 42.9% 26.5% 11.7% 11.1% 3.2% 38.4%
Manitoba 7.3% 41.8% 25.0% 12.2% 10.3% 3.3% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 7.4% 42.1% 25.0% 11.4% 10.2% 3.9% 2.7%
Alberta 6.0% 40.8% 27.2% 12.5% 10.4% 3.1% 12.3%
British Columbia 4.6% 40.3% 28.8% 11.8% 10.9% 3.6% 12.7%
Yukon 4.4% 43.1% 33.1% 7.9% 7.5% 4.0% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 6.5% 41.6% 26.9% 11.5% 10.5% 2.9% 0.1%
Nunavut 14.2% 34.9% 29.8% 10.8% 7.8% 2.4% 0.1%
Not Applicable 4.8% 52.9% 33.7% 6.2% 2.2% 0.2% 0.1%
Total 5.2% 36.1% 25.2% 14.0% 14.6% 4.9% 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 20,110 25,810 45,920
Prince Edward Island 5,040 5,560 10,600
Nova Scotia 19,160 21,130 40,290
New Brunswick 21,880 22,770 44,650
Quebec 90,990 125,400 216,390
Ontario 220,480 132,740 353,220
Manitoba 20,730 14,580 35,310
Saskatchewan 15,610 10,020 25,630
Alberta 66,160 44,920 111,090
British Columbia 72,680 44,510 117,190
Yukon 600 310 900
Northwest Territories 650 440 1,090
Nunavut 420 240 650
Not Applicable 140 530 670
Total 554,620 448,960 1,003,590

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 43.8% 56.2% 4.6%
Prince Edward Island 47.5% 52.5% 1.1%
Nova Scotia 47.6% 52.4% 4.0%
New Brunswick 49.0% 51.0% 4.4%
Quebec 42.0% 58.0% 21.6%
Ontario 62.4% 37.6% 35.2%
Manitoba 58.7% 41.3% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 60.9% 39.1% 2.6%
Alberta 59.6% 40.4% 11.1%
British Columbia 62.0% 38.0% 11.7%
Yukon 65.8% 34.2% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 59.3% 40.7% 0.1%
Nunavut 63.6% 36.4% 0.1%
Not Applicable 20.6% 79.4% 0.1%
Total 55.3% 44.7% 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 191.63 270.56 462.19
Prince Edward Island 45.04 52.14 97.18
Nova Scotia 180.92 183.47 364.40
New Brunswick 197.93 211.98 409.91
Quebec 579.13 879.08 1,458.21
Ontario 2,413.41 1,141.05 3,554.46
Manitoba 206.45 108.38 314.84
Saskatchewan 166.04 87.06 253.10
Alberta 730.09 406.50 1,136.59
British Columbia 797.62 381.19 1,178.80
Yukon 7.71 2.67 10.38
Northwest Territories 8.02 4.08 12.09
Nunavut 4.82 2.14 6.96
Not Applicable 1.84 2.82 4.66
Total 5,530.64 3,733.12 9,263.76

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 41.5% 58.5% 5.0%
Prince Edward Island 46.3% 53.7% 1.0%
Nova Scotia 49.6% 50.4% 3.9%
New Brunswick 48.3% 51.7% 4.4%
Quebec 39.7% 60.3% 15.7%
Ontario 67.9% 32.1% 38.4%
Manitoba 65.6% 34.4% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 65.6% 34.4% 2.7%
Alberta 64.2% 35.8% 12.3%
British Columbia 67.7% 32.3% 12.7%
Yukon 74.3% 25.7% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 66.3% 33.7% 0.1%
Nunavut 69.2% 30.8% 0.1%
Not Applicable 39.5% 60.5% 0.1%
Total 59.7% 40.3% 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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2025-10-03