Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

  • First-time recipients
    6,160
  • Active recipients
    952,030
  • Gross benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2026
    4.89 billion

All data is updated weekly and is current as of June 14, 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 June 8, 2026 Cumulative from April 1, 2026
Registered applications 45,770 514,520
Processed applications 48,530 524,210
Claims established (approved applications) 38,540 402,610
Recipients Not applicable 1,266,080
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, 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 589,970 823,000
Sickness 136,600 166,530
Fishing 8,120 17,280
Maternity and parental 208,560 247,680
Caregiving 8,250 10,660
Self employed 1,190 1,380
Total 952,030 1,266,080
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 Cumulative benefit paid to recipients since April 1, 2026
Regular 5,982.04 2,989.68
Sickness 1,024.96 596.70
Fishing 77.45 61.42
Maternity and parental 3,228.27 1,198.33
Caregiving 58.82 39.17
Self employed 12.61 4.94
Total 10,384.15 4,890.19
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 2,990 7,150 7,460 8,870 12,920 5,600 44,980
Prince Edward Island 850 2,390 1,830 1,630 2,100 1,270 10,060
Nova Scotia 2,590 10,100 7,720 6,050 7,250 3,040 36,750
New Brunswick 3,210 9,830 8,390 8,160 10,580 4,250 44,420
Quebec 11,680 39,870 44,720 40,520 44,520 16,120 197,430
Ontario 19,890 124,540 84,480 44,180 45,270 14,010 332,370
Manitoba 3,060 11,530 7,760 4,680 4,200 1,310 32,530
Saskatchewan 2,360 8,890 5,860 3,060 2,750 1,190 24,120
Alberta 9,020 40,120 29,190 15,310 12,910 4,060 110,610
British Columbia 7,420 40,610 31,000 15,360 15,550 5,300 115,230
Yukon 60 380 310 110 110 40 1,010
Northwest Territories 90 390 310 140 140 50 1,120
Nunavut 70 190 170 90 60 20 600
Not Applicable 60 440 250 40 20 20 820
Total 63,360 296,420 229,430 148,200 158,380 56,280 952,030

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 - 34 Years 35 - 44 Years 45 - 54 Years 55 - 64 Years 65 and Older Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 6.6% 15.9% 16.6% 19.7% 28.7% 12.4% 4.7%
Prince Edward Island 8.4% 23.7% 18.2% 16.2% 20.8% 12.6% 1.1%
Nova Scotia 7.1% 27.5% 21.0% 16.5% 19.7% 8.3% 3.9%
New Brunswick 7.2% 22.1% 18.9% 18.4% 23.8% 9.6% 4.7%
Quebec 5.9% 20.2% 22.7% 20.5% 22.5% 8.2% 20.7%
Ontario 6.0% 37.5% 25.4% 13.3% 13.6% 4.2% 34.9%
Manitoba 9.4% 35.4% 23.8% 14.4% 12.9% 4.0% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 9.8% 36.9% 24.3% 12.7% 11.4% 4.9% 2.5%
Alberta 8.2% 36.3% 26.4% 13.8% 11.7% 3.7% 11.6%
British Columbia 6.4% 35.2% 26.9% 13.3% 13.5% 4.6% 12.1%
Yukon 5.5% 37.6% 30.8% 10.9% 11.2% 3.9% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 8.1% 34.9% 27.5% 12.6% 12.5% 4.5% 0.1%
Nunavut 11.4% 31.8% 27.8% 15.2% 10.5% 3.3% 0.1%
Not Applicable 7.7% 53.0% 29.9% 4.5% 2.4% 2.4% 0.1%
Total 6.7% 31.1% 24.1% 15.6% 16.6% 5.9% 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 30.40 87.82 83.26 95.53 143.13 62.61 502.75
Prince Edward Island 9.14 31.05 22.27 18.90 24.41 15.41 121.18
Nova Scotia 21.63 118.73 82.77 56.73 68.35 29.53 377.74
New Brunswick 30.77 115.24 89.95 83.51 112.64 48.52 480.62
Quebec 79.67 322.49 377.86 348.02 397.67 149.45 1,675.16
Ontario 176.21 1,617.40 1,046.70 461.34 471.08 140.61 3,913.34
Manitoba 26.30 137.50 86.24 42.04 39.21 13.30 344.60
Saskatchewan 21.88 115.81 69.17 32.88 29.70 13.17 282.62
Alberta 80.24 516.52 358.43 169.93 148.67 46.95 1,320.74
British Columbia 61.65 515.06 374.85 156.64 160.81 55.02 1,324.04
Yukon 0.49 5.18 4.17 1.26 1.36 0.54 13.01
Northwest Territories 0.99 5.46 4.27 1.80 1.54 0.60 14.66
Nunavut 0.85 2.48 2.09 1.01 0.85 0.15 7.43
Not Applicable 0.39 3.43 2.04 0.28 0.10 0.03 6.27
Total 540.60 3,594.17 2,604.08 1,469.88 1,599.52 575.90 10,384.15

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 6.0% 17.5% 16.6% 19.0% 28.5% 12.5% 4.8%
Prince Edward Island 7.5% 25.6% 18.4% 15.6% 20.1% 12.7% 1.2%
Nova Scotia 5.7% 31.4% 21.9% 15.0% 18.1% 7.8% 3.6%
New Brunswick 6.4% 24.0% 18.7% 17.4% 23.4% 10.1% 4.6%
Quebec 4.8% 19.3% 22.6% 20.8% 23.7% 8.9% 16.1%
Ontario 4.5% 41.3% 26.7% 11.8% 12.0% 3.6% 37.7%
Manitoba 7.6% 39.9% 25.0% 12.2% 11.4% 3.9% 3.3%
Saskatchewan 7.7% 41.0% 24.5% 11.6% 10.5% 4.7% 2.7%
Alberta 6.1% 39.1% 27.1% 12.9% 11.3% 3.6% 12.7%
British Columbia 4.7% 38.9% 28.3% 11.8% 12.1% 4.2% 12.8%
Yukon 3.8% 39.8% 32.0% 9.7% 10.5% 4.1% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 6.8% 37.2% 29.1% 12.3% 10.5% 4.1% 0.1%
Nunavut 11.5% 33.3% 28.1% 13.6% 11.4% 2.0% 0.1%
Not Applicable 6.3% 54.7% 32.5% 4.4% 1.6% 0.5% 0.1%
Total 5.2% 34.6% 25.1% 14.2% 15.4% 5.5% 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 18,630 26,350 44,980
Prince Edward Island 4,460 5,610 10,060
Nova Scotia 16,530 20,220 36,750
New Brunswick 18,380 26,040 44,420
Quebec 70,150 127,280 197,430
Ontario 186,250 146,120 332,370
Manitoba 16,890 15,640 32,530
Saskatchewan 12,830 11,280 24,120
Alberta 58,410 52,210 110,610
British Columbia 64,280 50,950 115,230
Yukon 590 430 1,010
Northwest Territories 560 570 1,120
Nunavut 280 310 600
Not Applicable 130 670 790
Total 468,350 483,680 952,030

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 41.4% 58.6% 4.7%
Prince Edward Island 44.3% 55.7% 1.1%
Nova Scotia 45.0% 55.0% 3.9%
New Brunswick 41.4% 58.6% 4.7%
Quebec 35.5% 64.5% 20.7%
Ontario 56.0% 44.0% 34.9%
Manitoba 51.9% 48.1% 3.4%
Saskatchewan 53.2% 46.8% 2.5%
Alberta 52.8% 47.2% 11.6%
British Columbia 55.8% 44.2% 12.1%
Yukon 57.8% 42.2% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 49.7% 50.3% 0.1%
Nunavut 47.5% 52.5% 0.1%
Not Applicable 16.0% 84.0% 0.1%
Total 49.2% 50.8% 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 202.51 300.24 502.75
Prince Edward Island 54.07 67.11 121.18
Nova Scotia 186.13 191.61 377.74
New Brunswick 197.78 282.84 480.62
Quebec 575.46 1,099.69 1,675.16
Ontario 2,439.57 1,473.77 3,913.34
Manitoba 203.01 141.58 344.60
Saskatchewan 167.18 115.44 282.62
Alberta 767.11 553.63 1,320.74
British Columbia 829.68 494.36 1,324.04
Yukon 8.39 4.62 13.01
Northwest Territories 8.22 6.45 14.66
Nunavut 4.07 3.37 7.43
Not Applicable 1.97 4.30 6.27
Total 5,645.14 4,739.01 10,384.15

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 40.3% 59.7% 4.8%
Prince Edward Island 44.6% 55.4% 1.2%
Nova Scotia 49.3% 50.7% 3.6%
New Brunswick 41.2% 58.8% 4.6%
Quebec 34.4% 65.6% 16.1%
Ontario 62.3% 37.7% 37.7%
Manitoba 58.9% 41.1% 3.3%
Saskatchewan 59.2% 40.8% 2.7%
Alberta 58.1% 41.9% 12.7%
British Columbia 62.7% 37.3% 12.8%
Yukon 64.5% 35.5% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 56.0% 44.0% 0.1%
Nunavut 54.7% 45.3% 0.1%
Not Applicable 31.4% 68.6% 0.1%
Total 54.4% 45.6% 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

Page details

2026-05-22