EI beneficiaries increase by 0.9 per cent in June: StatsCan

Number of claims unchanged from May

Following a notable decline in May, the number of people receiving regular employment insurance (EI) benefits in June increased by 0.9 per cent (or 4,500) to 512,300. The number of beneficiaries has, most recently, been trending downward. Compared with June 2012, the number of people receiving regular benefits declined 6.4 per cent.

Alberta, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador saw increases in the number of beneficiaries, while Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island posted declines. There was little change in the other provinces.

The number of beneficiaries in Alberta increased by four per cent in June, offsetting the decline in the previous month. Edmonton experienced a 6.4 per cent increase and Calgary saw a 1.7 per cent increase. Overall, however, the number of beneficiaries in the two metropolitan areas has been stable since last summer.

After seven consecutive months of declines, the number of beneficiaries in Quebec rose 2.1 per cent in June. There were more people receiving benefits in all six metropolitan areas of the province, with the increases ranging from 1.2 per cent in Québec to 3.1 per cent in Saguenay. In Montréal, the number of beneficiaries rose 2.5 per cent to 56,200, following four months of little change.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of people receiving benefits increased one per cent in June compared with May. In the metropolitan area of St. John's, the number of beneficiaries was little changed.

For the second month in a row, Manitoba had fewer beneficiaries in June. The province experienced a 2.5 per cent decline. In the metropolitan area of Winnipeg, the number of people receiving regular benefits fell one per cent from the previous month, marking the second consecutive monthly decline.

There were fewer beneficiaries in Saskatchewan, down 2.4 per cent in June and the second consecutive monthly decline for the province. In Saskatoon, the number of people receiving benefits fell 1.5 per cent, while there was little change in Regina.

The number of people receiving benefits in Prince Edward Island decreased by 1.9 per cent in June, following a notable decline the previous month and continuing a seven-month downward trend.

After a marked decline in May, the number of beneficiaries in Ontario was little changed in June. In the metropolitan area of Toronto, there were 59,400 people receiving benefits, little changed from the previous month and well below the levels recorded in the summer of 2012.

By occupation

Of the 10 major occupation groups, three posted increases in the number of beneficiaries in June compared with May. Occupations unique to primary industry showed the largest increase, growing by five per cent. This was followed by natural and applied science occupations, which grew by 4.5 per cent. In both of these occupation groups, the increase in June occurred after two consecutive monthly declines. The number of beneficiaries rose by two per cent in trades, transport and equipment operation occupations. On the other hand, four occupation groups posted declines ranging from 1.2 per cent in business, finance and administrative occupations, to 2.8 per cent in health. The monthly decline in health occupations was the eighth in a row.

In June, three occupation groups posted little change: management; sales and service as well as occupations in processing, manufacturing and utilities.

On a year-over-year basis, there were fewer beneficiaries in all but one occupation group. The declines ranged from 1.1 per cent in trades, transport and equipment operation occupations, to 19.4 per cent in social science, education, government service and religion. At the same time, the number of beneficiaries in natural and applied science occupations was up 8.2 per cent in June, the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year increases for this group.

By demographic

In June, there were more beneficiaries among men of all age groups. The most notable increase occurred among those aged 15 to 24, which increased by 3.1 per cent. This was followed by men aged 25 to 54, which increased by1.9 per cent. Those 55 and over saw one per cent growth. At the same time, the number of women aged 15 to 24 receiving regular benefits was down one per cent, the fourth consecutive monthly decline. There was little change among women in the other age groups.

On a year-over-year basis, the number of female beneficiaries aged 15 to 24 decreased by 15.3 per cent and those aged 25 to 54 continued to experience the largest decline in the number of beneficiaries at 10.5 per cent. As for men 15 to 24 and those aged 25 to 54, the rate of decline was identical at 5.3 per cent.

At the same time, the number of women aged 55 and over receiving benefits fell by five per cent, while there was virtually no change for men in the same age group. Among all major demographic groups, men 55 and over have had the slowest year-over-year decline during the last few months.

Claims

The number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.

Following a decline in May, the number of initial and renewal claims was little changed in June, at 227,100. However, claims were down 3.3 per cent compared with June 2012.

Provincially, claims rose by 3.4 per cent in Prince Edward Island and 2.6 per cent in British Columbia. There were also increases of 1.9 per cent in Quebec and 1.1 per cent in New Brunswick. At the same time, claims fell for the second consecutive month in Manitoba, down 3.4 per cent in June. There was little or no change in the other provinces.

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