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Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

  • First-time recipients
    6,410
  • Active recipients
    1,069,550
  • Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2026
    2.13 billion

All data is updated weekly and is current as of May 3, 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

On this page

List of tables

Application processing statistics

Table 1: EI application processing statistics
Employment Insurance (EI) program Week starting on April 27, 2026 Cumulative from April 1, 2026
Registered applications 49,940 244,450
Processed applications 50,200 245,190
Claims established (approved applications) 38,390 184,670
Recipients Not applicable 1,035,460
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 707,520 681,800
Sickness 133,220 116,200
Fishing 13,220 16,140
Maternity and parental 206,880 213,340
Caregiving 8,220 6,910
Self employed 1,180 1,140
Total 1,069,550 1,035,460
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 6,712.60 1,350.11
Sickness 1,002.17 226.91
Fishing 164.72 35.41
Maternity and parental 3,197.83 499.50
Caregiving 59.33 14.91
Self employed 12.79 1.85
Total 11,149.44 2,128.68
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 3,640 7,990 8,260 9,860 14,290 6,300 50,320
Prince Edward Island 1,390 3,020 2,400 2,270 2,890 1,800 13,750
Nova Scotia 3,320 11,210 8,770 7,040 8,480 3,640 42,460
New Brunswick 3,860 10,880 9,350 9,120 11,760 4,860 49,840
Quebec 15,490 48,720 52,150 46,020 49,970 18,340 230,680
Ontario 25,580 134,780 92,430 50,870 51,200 15,770 370,620
Manitoba 3,800 12,710 8,860 5,500 4,910 1,610 37,380
Saskatchewan 2,820 9,610 6,710 3,830 3,440 1,590 28,000
Alberta 10,890 43,000 31,400 16,860 14,060 4,590 120,790
British Columbia 8,260 42,010 32,540 16,860 16,550 5,730 121,950
Yukon 110 440 370 130 130 60 1,240
Northwest Territories 100 400 310 140 130 50 1,130
Nunavut 70 180 150 90 60 20 560
Not Applicable 60 460 260 40 20 20 860
Total 79,370 325,390 253,960 168,620 177,880 64,370 1,069,550

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 7.2% 15.9% 16.4% 19.6% 28.4% 12.5% 4.7%
Prince Edward Island 10.1% 21.9% 17.5% 16.5% 21.0% 13.1% 1.3%
Nova Scotia 7.8% 26.4% 20.7% 16.6% 20.0% 8.6% 4.0%
New Brunswick 7.8% 21.8% 18.8% 18.3% 23.6% 9.8% 4.7%
Quebec 6.7% 21.1% 22.6% 19.9% 21.7% 8.0% 21.6%
Ontario 6.9% 36.4% 24.9% 13.7% 13.8% 4.3% 34.7%
Manitoba 10.2% 34.0% 23.7% 14.7% 13.1% 4.3% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 10.1% 34.3% 24.0% 13.7% 12.3% 5.7% 2.6%
Alberta 9.0% 35.6% 26.0% 14.0% 11.6% 3.8% 11.3%
British Columbia 6.8% 34.4% 26.7% 13.8% 13.6% 4.7% 11.4%
Yukon 8.9% 35.4% 30.0% 10.1% 10.7% 4.9% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 8.6% 35.3% 27.4% 12.3% 11.5% 4.8% 0.1%
Nunavut 11.6% 31.3% 26.8% 16.1% 10.7% 3.6% 0.1%
Not Applicable 7.1% 53.7% 29.7% 4.9% 2.3% 2.3% 0.1%
Total 7.4% 30.4% 23.7% 15.8% 16.6% 6.0% 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 36.62 95.12 90.51 105.50 156.05 71.72 555.53
Prince Edward Island 14.66 37.28 28.07 25.74 32.28 20.70 158.72
Nova Scotia 27.71 127.44 92.27 66.13 78.98 34.71 427.24
New Brunswick 36.01 123.10 96.47 88.95 118.78 52.18 515.49
Quebec 107.64 386.67 424.80 380.83 430.80 163.79 1,894.52
Ontario 220.61 1,687.61 1,086.77 489.66 490.70 145.98 4,121.32
Manitoba 32.23 147.06 93.23 47.05 43.69 15.47 378.74
Saskatchewan 26.63 123.61 76.24 38.16 34.96 16.78 316.37
Alberta 98.11 542.45 373.79 179.37 153.14 50.15 1,397.00
British Columbia 68.12 520.68 376.94 160.89 158.95 55.82 1,341.40
Yukon 0.98 5.81 4.77 1.41 1.50 0.73 15.19
Northwest Territories 1.03 5.39 3.99 1.66 1.41 0.61 14.10
Nunavut 0.84 2.38 1.89 1.06 0.76 0.14 7.09
Not Applicable 0.39 3.57 2.26 0.37 0.10 0.02 6.72
Total 671.59 3,808.17 2,751.99 1,586.79 1,702.10 628.80 11,149.44

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 6.6% 17.1% 16.3% 19.0% 28.1% 12.9% 5.0%
Prince Edward Island 9.2% 23.5% 17.7% 16.2% 20.3% 13.0% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 6.5% 29.8% 21.6% 15.5% 18.5% 8.1% 3.8%
New Brunswick 7.0% 23.9% 18.7% 17.3% 23.0% 10.1% 4.6%
Quebec 5.7% 20.4% 22.4% 20.1% 22.7% 8.6% 17.0%
Ontario 5.4% 40.9% 26.4% 11.9% 11.9% 3.5% 37.0%
Manitoba 8.5% 38.8% 24.6% 12.4% 11.5% 4.1% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 8.4% 39.1% 24.1% 12.1% 11.0% 5.3% 2.8%
Alberta 7.0% 38.8% 26.8% 12.8% 11.0% 3.6% 12.5%
British Columbia 5.1% 38.8% 28.1% 12.0% 11.8% 4.2% 12.0%
Yukon 6.5% 38.2% 31.4% 9.3% 9.9% 4.8% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 7.3% 38.2% 28.3% 11.8% 10.0% 4.4% 0.1%
Nunavut 11.9% 33.6% 26.7% 15.0% 10.8% 2.0% 0.1%
Not Applicable 5.8% 53.1% 33.6% 5.5% 1.5% 0.3% 0.1%
Total 6.0% 34.2% 24.7% 14.2% 15.3% 5.6% 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 20,000 30,330 50,320
Prince Edward Island 5,640 8,110 13,750
Nova Scotia 18,190 24,270 42,460
New Brunswick 19,430 30,410 49,840
Quebec 75,470 155,210 230,680
Ontario 196,220 174,410 370,620
Manitoba 18,050 19,330 37,380
Saskatchewan 13,850 14,150 28,000
Alberta 60,150 60,640 120,790
British Columbia 67,140 54,820 121,950
Yukon 640 610 1,240
Northwest Territories 550 580 1,130
Nunavut 280 270 550
Not Applicable 140 700 840
Total 495,730 573,820 1,069,550

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 42.8% 57.2% 4.0%
New Brunswick 39.0% 61.0% 4.7%
Quebec 32.7% 67.3% 21.6%
Ontario 52.9% 47.1% 34.7%
Manitoba 48.3% 51.7% 3.5%
Saskatchewan 49.5% 50.5% 2.6%
Alberta 49.8% 50.2% 11.3%
British Columbia 55.1% 44.9% 11.4%
Yukon 51.3% 48.7% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 48.6% 51.4% 0.1%
Nunavut 50.7% 49.3% 0.1%
Not Applicable 16.3% 83.7% 0.1%
Total 46.3% 53.7% 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 219.26 336.27 555.53
Prince Edward Island 65.12 93.61 158.72
Nova Scotia 196.91 230.33 427.24
New Brunswick 204.82 310.66 515.49
Quebec 609.02 1,285.50 1,894.52
Ontario 2,454.78 1,666.54 4,121.32
Manitoba 210.14 168.60 378.74
Saskatchewan 173.43 142.94 316.37
Alberta 773.84 623.16 1,397.00
British Columbia 828.88 512.53 1,341.40
Yukon 8.98 6.21 15.19
Northwest Territories 8.03 6.07 14.10
Nunavut 3.97 3.12 7.09
Not Applicable 2.18 4.54 6.72
Total 5,759.35 5,390.10 11,149.44

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 39.5% 60.5% 5.0%
Prince Edward Island 41.0% 59.0% 1.4%
Nova Scotia 46.1% 53.9% 3.8%
New Brunswick 39.7% 60.3% 4.6%
Quebec 32.1% 67.9% 17.0%
Ontario 59.6% 40.4% 37.0%
Manitoba 55.5% 44.5% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 54.8% 45.2% 2.8%
Alberta 55.4% 44.6% 12.5%
British Columbia 61.8% 38.2% 12.0%
Yukon 59.1% 40.9% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 56.9% 43.1% 0.1%
Nunavut 56.0% 44.0% 0.1%
Not Applicable 32.5% 67.5% 0.1%
Total 51.7% 48.3% 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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2026-01-29