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Employment Insurance (EI) program statistics

All data is current as of May 12, 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 May 6, 2024 Cumulative from April 1, 2024
Registered applications 44,920 272,050
Processed applications 42,740 268,860
Claims established (approved applications) 33,270 211,900
Recipients Not applicable 969,170
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 602,410 631,650
Sickness 116,710 111,180
Fishing 12,040 16,470
Maternity and parental 190,800 203,040
Caregiving 6,510 5,960
Self employed 870 910
Total 929,330 969,170
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 4,656.39 1,279.78
Sickness 778.42 227.71
Fishing 134.94 36.24
Maternity and parental 2,717.08 527.59
Caregiving 41.96 13.09
Self employed 7.67 1.52
Total 8,336.46 2,085.93
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 Unknown Age Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 2,750 5,900 6,420 8,700 12,320 4,560 0 40,660
Prince Edward Island 1,060 2,050 1,740 1,860 2,460 1,440 0 10,600
Nova Scotia 2,350 7,460 5,580 5,080 6,580 2,600 0 29,660
New Brunswick 2,780 7,370 6,380 7,010 9,870 3,730 0 37,140
Quebec 8,850 29,280 29,550 26,140 32,320 10,190 0 136,330
Ontario 13,890 77,850 46,740 23,400 24,090 6,340 0 192,320
Manitoba 2,280 7,630 4,600 2,470 2,480 770 0 20,240
Saskatchewan 1,740 6,470 3,770 2,110 2,110 890 0 17,090
Alberta 5,030 24,100 15,610 7,680 7,050 1,940 0 61,400
British Columbia 3,720 22,660 15,700 7,220 7,820 2,390 0 59,500
Yukon 50 250 210 90 100 30 0 720
Northwest Territories 70 270 200 100 80 30 0 750
Nunavut 60 160 120 60 40 20 0 460
Not applicable 30,340 100,000 73,170 50,810 52,190 15,960 20 322,500
Total 74,950 291,460 209,790 142,730 159,510 50,900 20 929,330

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 Unknown Age Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 6.8% 14.5% 15.8% 21.4% 30.3% 11.2% 0.0% 4.4%
Prince Edward Island 10.0% 19.4% 16.4% 17.5% 23.2% 13.6% 0.0% 1.1%
Nova Scotia 7.9% 25.2% 18.8% 17.1% 22.2% 8.8% 0.0% 3.2%
New Brunswick 7.5% 19.8% 17.2% 18.9% 26.6% 10.0% 0.0% 4.0%
Quebec 6.5% 21.5% 21.7% 19.2% 23.7% 7.5% 0.0% 14.7%
Ontario 7.2% 40.5% 24.3% 12.2% 12.5% 3.3% 0.0% 20.7%
Manitoba 11.3% 37.7% 22.7% 12.2% 12.3% 3.8% 0.0% 2.2%
Saskatchewan 10.2% 37.9% 22.1% 12.3% 12.3% 5.2% 0.0% 1.8%
Alberta 8.2% 39.2% 25.4% 12.5% 11.5% 3.2% 0.0% 6.6%
British Columbia 6.2% 38.1% 26.4% 12.1% 13.1% 4.0% 0.0% 6.4%
Yukon 6.5% 34.8% 28.7% 12.0% 13.6% 4.3% 0.0% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 8.8% 35.4% 27.1% 13.3% 11.0% 4.5% 0.0% 0.1%
Nunavut 12.0% 35.6% 26.0% 13.3% 8.7% 4.4% 0.0% 0.0%
Not applicable 9.4% 31.0% 22.7% 15.8% 16.2% 4.9% 0.0% 34.7%
Total 8.1% 31.4% 22.6% 15.4% 17.2% 5.5% 0.0% 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 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 and older Unknown Age Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 27.50 68.45 68.00 87.99 125.23 48.46 0 425.63
Prince Edward Island 11.44 26.05 20.56 20.86 26.46 15.69 0 121.06
Nova Scotia 22.56 96.12 62.41 49.92 61.87 25.69 0 318.57
New Brunswick 27.85 88.56 67.19 68.83 96.33 38.79 0 387.55
Quebec 66.31 231.48 230.57 204.36 260.06 88.75 0 1,081.53
Ontario 139.90 1,136.82 635.90 227.11 223.89 56.38 0 2,420.00
Manitoba 23.32 106.90 58.16 25.20 25.09 7.96 0 246.62
Saskatchewan 19.47 95.90 50.18 23.48 23.42 9.74 0 222.18
Alberta 55.08 357.26 214.44 83.92 76.55 21.28 0 808.52
British Columbia 39.84 337.39 219.14 74.75 77.70 23.64 0 772.46
Yukon 0.47 3.78 2.87 1.08 1.23 0.38 0 9.81
Northwest Territories 0.77 4.37 3.17 1.43 1.09 0.46 0 11.29
Nunavut 0.77 2.46 1.94 0.90 0.59 0.08 0 6.74
Not applicable 126.44 486.18 349.28 231.89 237.80 72.91 0.01 1,504.51
Total 561.71 3,041.72 1,983.80 1,101.73 1,237.30 410.19 0.01 8,336.46

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 Unknown Age Total
Newfoundland and Labrador 6.5% 16.1% 16.0% 20.7% 29.4% 11.4% 0.0% 5.1%
Prince Edward Island 9.4% 21.5% 17.0% 17.2% 21.9% 13.0% 0.0% 1.5%
Nova Scotia 7.1% 30.2% 19.6% 15.7% 19.4% 8.1% 0.0% 3.8%
New Brunswick 7.2% 22.9% 17.3% 17.8% 24.9% 10.0% 0.0% 4.6%
Quebec 6.1% 21.4% 21.3% 18.9% 24.0% 8.2% 0.0% 13.0%
Ontario 5.8% 47.0% 26.3% 9.4% 9.3% 2.3% 0.0% 29.0%
Manitoba 9.5% 43.3% 23.6% 10.2% 10.2% 3.2% 0.0% 3.0%
Saskatchewan 8.8% 43.2% 22.6% 10.6% 10.5% 4.4% 0.0% 2.7%
Alberta 6.8% 44.2% 26.5% 10.4% 9.5% 2.6% 0.0% 9.7%
British Columbia 5.2% 43.7% 28.4% 9.7% 10.1% 3.1% 0.0% 9.3%
Yukon 4.8% 38.5% 29.3% 11.0% 12.5% 3.9% 0.0% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 6.8% 38.7% 28.1% 12.7% 9.7% 4.0% 0.0% 0.1%
Nunavut 11.5% 36.6% 28.8% 13.4% 8.7% 1.1% 0.0% 0.1%
Not applicable 8.4% 32.3% 23.2% 15.4% 15.8% 4.8% 0.0% 18.0%
Total 6.7% 36.5% 23.8% 13.2% 14.8% 4.9% 0.0% 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 15,370 25,290 40,660
Prince Edward Island 4,170 6,430 10,600
Nova Scotia 12,200 17,460 29,660
New Brunswick 14,000 23,150 37,140
Quebec 38,100 98,230 136,330
Ontario 109,440 82,880 192,320
Manitoba 10,240 9,990 20,240
Saskatchewan 8,750 8,340 17,090
Alberta 33,930 27,470 61,400
British Columbia 34,910 24,590 59,500
Yukon 390 330 720
Northwest Territories 360 390 750
Nunavut 210 240 440
Not applicable 149,310 173,170 322,480
Total 431,370 497,960 929,330

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 37.8% 62.2% 4.4%
Prince Edward Island 39.3% 60.7% 1.1%
Nova Scotia 41.1% 58.9% 3.2%
New Brunswick 37.7% 62.3% 4.0%
Quebec 27.9% 72.1% 14.7%
Ontario 56.9% 43.1% 20.7%
Manitoba 50.6% 49.4% 2.2%
Saskatchewan 51.2% 48.8% 1.8%
Alberta 55.3% 44.7% 6.6%
British Columbia 58.7% 41.3% 6.4%
Yukon 54.3% 45.7% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 47.7% 52.3% 0.1%
Nunavut 46.8% 53.2% 0.0%
Not applicable 46.3% 53.7% 34.7%
Total 46.4% 53.6% 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 159.95 265.69 425.63
Prince Edward Island 47.79 73.27 121.06
Nova Scotia 143.70 174.86 318.57
New Brunswick 146.91 240.63 387.55
Quebec 300.08 781.45 1,081.53
Ontario 1,596.08 823.91 2,420.00
Manitoba 139.95 106.67 246.62
Saskatchewan 126.70 95.49 222.18
Alberta 502.97 305.55 808.52
British Columbia 513.41 259.05 772.46
Yukon 5.94 3.86 9.81
Northwest Territories 5.91 5.37 11.29
Nunavut 3.49 3.25 6.74
Not applicable 704.38 800.13 1,504.51
Total 4,397.28 3,939.18 8,336.46

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 37.6% 62.4% 5.1%
Prince Edward Island 39.5% 60.5% 1.5%
Nova Scotia 45.1% 54.9% 3.8%
New Brunswick 37.9% 62.1% 4.6%
Quebec 27.7% 72.3% 13.0%
Ontario 66.0% 34.0% 29.0%
Manitoba 56.7% 43.3% 3.0%
Saskatchewan 57.0% 43.0% 2.7%
Alberta 62.2% 37.8% 9.7%
British Columbia 66.5% 33.5% 9.3%
Yukon 60.6% 39.4% 0.1%
Northwest Territories 52.4% 47.6% 0.1%
Nunavut 51.8% 48.2% 0.1%
Not applicable 46.8% 53.2% 18.0%
Total 52.7% 47.3% 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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