The number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits rose by 54,300, or 7.1%, in September, following two months of declines. The largest increases in September occurred in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
The number of beneficiaries in September reached 818,000, up 63.5% from October 2008 when employment hit its peak. During this period, the largest increases occurred in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. The number of beneficiaries had shown a sharp upward trend from October 2008 to June 2009, but has since levelled off.
The number of initial and renewal claims received in September fell 5.0% (or 14,700) to 280,700. The number of EI claims received has been trending down since the most recent peak in May 2009. Declines in the number of claims received in September were observed in most provinces.
Compared with September 2008, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits was higher in all census metropolitan areas.The number of beneficiaries more than doubled in several census metropolitan areas, with the fastest year-over-year increases in Calgary and Edmonton. The number of people receiving benefits also more than doubled in Greater Sudbury, Vancouver, Victoria, Saskatoon, Hamilton and Kitchener.
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