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Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

  • First-time recipients
    6,390
  • Active recipients
    1,028,650
  • Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2026
    11.77 billion

All data is updated weekly and is current as of September 13, 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 September 7, 2026 Cumulative from April 1, 2026
Registered applications 40,440 1,378,350
Processed applications 40,820 1,356,850
Claims established (approved applications) 38,430 962,610
Recipients Not applicable 1,874,340
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 652,810 1,254,060
Sickness 141,600 261,440
Fishing 12,360 19,520
Maternity and parental 212,710 322,410
Caregiving 8,650 18,370
Self employed 1,230 1,840
Total 1,028,650 1,874,340
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 6,524.58 7,291.78
Sickness 1,120.36 1,443.62
Fishing 94.41 149.11
Maternity and parental 3,273.68 2,771.34
Caregiving 64.01 97.92
Self employed 13.32 11.88
Total 11,090.37 11,765.50
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 2,600 6,830 7,160 8,550 12,330 5,400 42,870
Prince Edward Island 720 2,350 1,930 1,740 2,040 1,160 9,950
Nova Scotia 2,460 10,570 8,760 7,020 8,160 3,450 40,430
New Brunswick 2,810 9,970 9,130 8,720 10,780 4,190 45,590
Quebec 10,620 42,460 50,730 44,890 46,050 17,360 212,110
Ontario 18,430 130,870 96,780 55,910 53,820 17,820 373,640
Manitoba 2,710 11,900 9,440 6,550 5,500 1,700 37,800
Saskatchewan 1,910 8,810 6,540 3,800 3,270 1,190 25,510
Alberta 7,100 37,810 29,470 16,720 13,470 4,320 108,880
British Columbia 6,470 42,350 35,400 20,190 18,220 5,890 128,520
Yukon 50 370 290 90 70 30 890
Northwest Territories 70 380 300 150 130 40 1,060
Nunavut 90 240 200 110 70 30 740
Not Applicable 50 370 200 50 20 20 700
Total 56,070 305,260 256,340 174,470 173,940 62,590 1,028,650

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 6.1% 15.9% 16.7% 19.9% 28.8% 12.6% 4.2%
Prince Edward Island 7.2% 23.6% 19.4% 17.5% 20.5% 11.7% 1.0%
Nova Scotia 6.1% 26.2% 21.7% 17.4% 20.2% 8.5% 3.9%
New Brunswick 6.2% 21.9% 20.0% 19.1% 23.6% 9.2% 4.4%
Quebec 5.0% 20.0% 23.9% 21.2% 21.7% 8.2% 20.6%
Ontario 4.9% 35.0% 25.9% 15.0% 14.4% 4.8% 36.3%
Manitoba 7.2% 31.5% 25.0% 17.3% 14.6% 4.5% 3.7%
Saskatchewan 7.5% 34.5% 25.6% 14.9% 12.8% 4.6% 2.5%
Alberta 6.5% 34.7% 27.1% 15.4% 12.4% 4.0% 10.6%
British Columbia 5.0% 32.9% 27.5% 15.7% 14.2% 4.6% 12.5%
Yukon 5.0% 41.1% 32.9% 9.6% 8.3% 3.1% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 6.7% 35.4% 28.5% 14.0% 11.8% 3.6% 0.1%
Nunavut 12.0% 32.7% 27.4% 14.8% 9.7% 3.5% 0.1%
Not Applicable 6.7% 52.5% 28.6% 6.5% 2.8% 2.8% 0.1%
Total 5.5% 29.7% 24.9% 17.0% 16.9% 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 23.25 82.95 78.59 89.60 135.31 57.24 466.94
Prince Edward Island 6.36 28.66 21.19 18.06 21.69 12.15 108.12
Nova Scotia 19.47 121.51 89.02 64.78 77.78 31.05 403.62
New Brunswick 23.78 113.50 94.92 88.15 116.45 47.42 484.23
Quebec 63.92 329.79 418.45 386.94 431.77 160.22 1,791.09
Ontario 153.47 1,657.24 1,174.19 582.00 590.79 181.43 4,339.12
Manitoba 20.56 136.67 94.66 55.27 50.79 15.66 373.61
Saskatchewan 16.79 111.60 73.45 38.01 34.38 12.07 286.29
Alberta 59.51 492.13 364.03 185.02 161.67 50.61 1,312.96
British Columbia 54.80 541.53 419.88 204.16 199.19 64.16 1,483.72
Yukon 0.42 4.89 3.95 1.04 0.88 0.38 11.56
Northwest Territories 0.85 5.42 4.32 1.98 1.58 0.49 14.62
Nunavut 0.98 3.05 2.54 1.50 0.89 0.33 9.27
Not Applicable 0.27 3.01 1.55 0.28 0.09 0.02 5.22
Total 444.42 3,631.95 2,840.74 1,716.79 1,823.24 633.23 11,090.37

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 5.0% 17.8% 16.8% 19.2% 29.0% 12.3% 4.2%
Prince Edward Island 5.9% 26.5% 19.6% 16.7% 20.1% 11.2% 1.0%
Nova Scotia 4.8% 30.1% 22.1% 16.1% 19.3% 7.7% 3.6%
New Brunswick 4.9% 23.4% 19.6% 18.2% 24.0% 9.8% 4.4%
Quebec 3.6% 18.4% 23.4% 21.6% 24.1% 8.9% 16.1%
Ontario 3.5% 38.2% 27.1% 13.4% 13.6% 4.2% 39.1%
Manitoba 5.5% 36.6% 25.3% 14.8% 13.6% 4.2% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 5.9% 39.0% 25.7% 13.3% 12.0% 4.2% 2.6%
Alberta 4.5% 37.5% 27.7% 14.1% 12.3% 3.9% 11.8%
British Columbia 3.7% 36.5% 28.3% 13.8% 13.4% 4.3% 13.4%
Yukon 3.6% 42.3% 34.2% 9.0% 7.7% 3.3% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 5.8% 37.0% 29.5% 13.5% 10.8% 3.3% 0.1%
Nunavut 10.5% 32.9% 27.4% 16.2% 9.5% 3.5% 0.1%
Not Applicable 5.2% 57.7% 29.6% 5.3% 1.8% 0.5% 0.0%
Total 4.0% 32.7% 25.6% 15.5% 16.4% 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 19,230 23,640 42,870
Prince Edward Island 4,630 5,320 9,950
Nova Scotia 19,500 20,930 40,430
New Brunswick 22,660 22,930 45,590
Quebec 92,840 119,270 212,110
Ontario 234,800 138,840 373,640
Manitoba 23,820 13,970 37,800
Saskatchewan 16,150 9,350 25,510
Alberta 66,320 42,550 108,880
British Columbia 79,640 48,870 128,520
Yukon 580 310 890
Northwest Territories 590 470 1,060
Nunavut 400 350 740
Not Applicable 150 530 680
Total 581,320 447,330 1,028,650

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 44.9% 55.1% 4.2%
Prince Edward Island 46.5% 53.5% 1.0%
Nova Scotia 48.2% 51.8% 3.9%
New Brunswick 49.7% 50.3% 4.4%
Quebec 43.8% 56.2% 20.6%
Ontario 62.8% 37.2% 36.3%
Manitoba 63.0% 37.0% 3.7%
Saskatchewan 63.3% 36.7% 2.5%
Alberta 60.9% 39.1% 10.6%
British Columbia 62.0% 38.0% 12.5%
Yukon 65.2% 34.8% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 55.8% 44.2% 0.1%
Nunavut 53.5% 46.5% 0.1%
Not Applicable 21.9% 78.1% 0.1%
Total 56.5% 43.5% 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 202.60 264.33 466.94
Prince Edward Island 50.20 57.92 108.12
Nova Scotia 203.82 199.80 403.62
New Brunswick 235.09 249.14 484.23
Quebec 717.71 1,073.38 1,791.09
Ontario 2,868.19 1,470.92 4,339.12
Manitoba 249.00 124.61 373.61
Saskatchewan 189.03 97.27 286.29
Alberta 829.67 483.29 1,312.96
British Columbia 967.82 515.90 1,483.72
Yukon 8.30 3.26 11.56
Northwest Territories 8.77 5.86 14.62
Nunavut 4.94 4.33 9.27
Not Applicable 2.07 3.15 5.22
Total 6,537.21 4,553.16 11,090.37

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 43.4% 56.6% 4.2%
Prince Edward Island 46.4% 53.6% 1.0%
Nova Scotia 50.5% 49.5% 3.6%
New Brunswick 48.5% 51.5% 4.4%
Quebec 40.1% 59.9% 16.1%
Ontario 66.1% 33.9% 39.1%
Manitoba 66.6% 33.4% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 66.0% 34.0% 2.6%
Alberta 63.2% 36.8% 11.8%
British Columbia 65.2% 34.8% 13.4%
Yukon 71.8% 28.2% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 59.9% 40.1% 0.1%
Nunavut 53.3% 46.7% 0.1%
Not Applicable 39.6% 60.4% 0.0%
Total 58.9% 41.1% 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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2026-05-22