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Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

All data is current as of April 7, 2024.

Notes
  • First-time recipients are individuals receiving an EI payment for the first time since April 1, 2024.
  • Active recipients are individuals currently receiving EI payments
  • Total gross benefit dollars are cumulative since April 1, 2024

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List of tables

Application processing statistics

Table 1: EI application processing statistics
Employment Insurance (EI) program Week starting on April 1, 2024 Cumulative from April 1, 2024
Registered applications 42,720 42,720
Processed applications 39,880 39,880
Claims established (approved applications) 37,780 37,780
Recipients Not applicable 308,080
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, 2024
  • 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, 2024
Regular 684,740 187,410
Sickness 116,810 27,100
Fishing 15,290 5,150
Maternity and parental 189,700 86,390
Caregiving 6,650 1,810
Self employed 850 230
Total 1,014,030 308,080
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 Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2024
Regular 4,908.13 103.04
Sickness 768.64 14.08
Fishing 154.92 2.98
Maternity and parental 2,685.79 45.07
Caregiving 42.48 1.00
Self employed 7.79 0.10
Total 8,567.76 166.27
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 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 and older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 4,130 8,440 8,670 11,250 15,730 5,990 54,200
Prince Edward Island 1,650 2,980 2,420 2,430 3,250 1,860 14,580
Nova Scotia 4,020 11,430 8,560 7,610 9,610 3,720 44,940
New Brunswick 4,510 11,130 9,630 10,220 13,460 4,930 53,880
Quebec 17,240 52,020 50,390 43,960 53,000 17,510 234,120
Ontario 27,960 123,970 77,680 43,800 44,450 12,290 330,150
Manitoba 4,150 12,200 7,790 4,780 4,590 1,410 34,920
Saskatchewan 3,190 9,960 6,410 3,890 3,920 1,530 28,900
Alberta 10,500 39,240 26,370 14,110 12,570 3,530 106,320
British Columbia 8,400 38,320 27,250 14,620 14,820 4,600 108,010
Yukon 110 420 340 160 190 50 1,280
Northwest Territories 100 400 290 180 140 50 1,150
Nunavut 70 240 170 100 60 20 660
Not applicable 70 500 290 70 20 20 960
Total 86,100 311,240 226,240 157,160 175,810 57,520 1,014,030

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 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 and older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 7.6% 15.6% 16.0% 20.8% 29.0% 11.0% 5.3%
Prince Edward Island 11.3% 20.4% 16.6% 16.6% 22.3% 12.8% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 8.9% 25.4% 19.0% 16.9% 21.4% 8.3% 4.4%
New Brunswick 8.4% 20.7% 17.9% 19.0% 25.0% 9.2% 5.3%
Quebec 7.4% 22.2% 21.5% 18.8% 22.6% 7.5% 23.1%
Ontario 8.5% 37.6% 23.5% 13.3% 13.5% 3.7% 32.6%
Manitoba 11.9% 34.9% 22.3% 13.7% 13.1% 4.0% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 11.0% 34.5% 22.2% 13.5% 13.6% 5.3% 2.9%
Alberta 9.9% 36.9% 24.8% 13.3% 11.8% 3.3% 10.5%
British Columbia 7.8% 35.5% 25.2% 13.5% 13.7% 4.3% 10.7%
Yukon 8.8% 32.9% 26.5% 12.8% 14.7% 4.2% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 8.3% 34.9% 24.9% 15.3% 12.2% 4.5% 0.1%
Nunavut 10.9% 36.3% 25.7% 15.1% 9.1% 3.0% 0.1%
Not applicable 7.0% 52.0% 30.0% 6.9% 2.1% 2.1% 0.1%
Total 8.5% 30.7% 22.3% 15.5% 17.3% 5.7% 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 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 and older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 33.22 78.78 75.07 93.45 132.73 52.95 466.20
Prince Edward Island 13.85 29.69 22.70 21.70 28.42 16.73 133.09
Nova Scotia 29.13 112.47 75.19 59.82 73.14 29.47 379.22
New Brunswick 34.57 102.79 77.80 76.61 102.98 41.15 435.90
Quebec 98.83 318.76 313.44 274.53 339.86 117.00 1,462.42
Ontario 196.41 1,344.69 769.07 311.36 307.94 81.52 3,010.99
Manitoba 31.74 128.41 72.07 35.27 34.33 11.06 312.88
Saskatchewan 26.21 113.10 61.78 31.62 32.84 13.04 278.58
Alberta 81.18 434.97 268.81 117.60 104.83 29.27 1,036.66
British Columbia 61.58 416.01 275.70 110.72 112.25 34.36 1,010.62
Yukon 0.89 4.80 3.56 1.56 1.88 0.54 13.23
Northwest Territories 1.04 5.29 3.64 2.00 1.41 0.58 13.97
Nunavut 0.80 3.03 2.10 1.23 0.69 0.09 7.95
Not applicable 0.40 3.37 1.86 0.33 0.07 0.03 6.06
Total 609.86 3,096.14 2,022.81 1,137.80 1,273.37 427.79 8,567.76

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 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 and older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 7.1% 16.9% 16.1% 20.0% 28.5% 11.4% 5.4%
Prince Edward Island 10.4% 22.3% 17.1% 16.3% 21.4% 12.6% 1.6%
Nova Scotia 7.7% 29.7% 19.8% 15.8% 19.3% 7.8% 4.4%
New Brunswick 7.9% 23.6% 17.8% 17.6% 23.6% 9.4% 5.1%
Quebec 6.8% 21.8% 21.4% 18.8% 23.2% 8.0% 17.1%
Ontario 6.5% 44.7% 25.5% 10.3% 10.2% 2.7% 35.1%
Manitoba 10.1% 41.0% 23.0% 11.3% 11.0% 3.5% 3.7%
Saskatchewan 9.4% 40.6% 22.2% 11.3% 11.8% 4.7% 3.3%
Alberta 7.8% 42.0% 25.9% 11.3% 10.1% 2.8% 12.1%
British Columbia 6.1% 41.2% 27.3% 11.0% 11.1% 3.4% 11.8%
Yukon 6.7% 36.3% 26.9% 11.8% 14.2% 4.1% 0.2%
Northwest Territories 7.5% 37.8% 26.1% 14.3% 10.1% 4.2% 0.2%
Nunavut 10.1% 38.1% 26.4% 15.5% 8.7% 1.2% 0.1%
Not applicable 6.6% 55.6% 30.7% 5.4% 1.2% 0.5% 0.1%
Total 7.1% 36.1% 23.6% 13.3% 14.9% 5.0% 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 21,020 33,180 54,200
Prince Edward Island 5,940 8,640 14,580
Nova Scotia 18,680 26,260 44,940
New Brunswick 21,740 32,140 53,880
Quebec 72,180 161,950 234,120
Ontario 172,390 157,760 330,150
Manitoba 16,580 18,350 34,920
Saskatchewan 13,800 15,100 28,900
Alberta 52,090 54,230 106,320
British Columbia 58,160 49,850 108,010
Yukon 630 660 1,280
Northwest Territories 520 620 1,150
Nunavut 310 340 650
Not applicable 130 800 940
Total 454,170 559,870 1,014,030

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 38.8% 61.2% 5.3%
Prince Edward Island 40.8% 59.2% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 41.6% 58.4% 4.4%
New Brunswick 40.3% 59.7% 5.3%
Quebec 30.8% 69.2% 23.1%
Ontario 52.2% 47.8% 32.6%
Manitoba 47.5% 52.5% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 47.7% 52.3% 2.9%
Alberta 49.0% 51.0% 10.5%
British Columbia 53.8% 46.2% 10.7%
Yukon 48.8% 51.2% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 45.6% 54.4% 0.1%
Nunavut 47.4% 52.6% 0.1%
Not applicable 14.2% 85.8% 0.1%
Total 44.8% 55.2% 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 182.35 283.86 466.20
Prince Edward Island 54.86 78.22 133.09
Nova Scotia 171.15 208.07 379.22
New Brunswick 172.79 263.11 435.90
Quebec 432.95 1,029.47 1,462.42
Ontario 1,872.47 1,138.52 3,010.99
Manitoba 166.77 146.11 312.88
Saskatchewan 149.46 129.12 278.58
Alberta 593.26 443.40 1,036.66
British Columbia 626.96 383.66 1,010.62
Yukon 7.29 5.94 13.23
Northwest Territories 7.10 6.87 13.97
Nunavut 4.32 3.63 7.95
Not applicable 1.94 4.12 6.06
Total 4,443.66 4,124.10 8,567.76

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 39.1% 60.9% 5.4%
Prince Edward Island 41.2% 58.8% 1.6%
Nova Scotia 45.1% 54.9% 4.4%
New Brunswick 39.6% 60.4% 5.1%
Quebec 29.6% 70.4% 17.1%
Ontario 62.2% 37.8% 35.1%
Manitoba 53.3% 46.7% 3.7%
Saskatchewan 53.7% 46.3% 3.3%
Alberta 57.2% 42.8% 12.1%
British Columbia 62.0% 38.0% 11.8%
Yukon 55.1% 44.9% 0.2%
Northwest Territories 50.8% 49.2% 0.2%
Nunavut 54.4% 45.6% 0.1%
Not applicable 32.0% 68.0% 0.1%
Total 51.9% 48.1% 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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