The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits was virtually unchanged (-0.3%; -1,600) at 517,000 in May. The number of beneficiaries had previously trended up (+6.6%; +32,000) from January to April. On a year-over-year basis, the number of regular EI beneficiaries was up by 44,000 (+9.2%) in May, reports Statistics Canada.
Data from the Labour Force Survey indicate that the unemployment rate was up 0.7 percentage points year over year to 7.0% in May, said the federal agency.
“In May, the number of beneficiaries receiving regular EI benefits increased the most among recipients who were last employed in business, finance and administration occupations (+2,200; +3.3%), marking the second consecutive monthly increase. Among those who last worked in sales and service occupations (+1,800; +2.1%), May marked the fourth consecutive monthly increase,” explained Statistics Canada.
“In contrast, there was a decline among recipients who last worked in occupations in manufacturing and utilities (-3,100; -7.5%), partly offsetting consecutive monthly increases totalling 5,400 (+14.8%) from January to April 2025.
“Compared with May 2024, the number of regular EI recipients was up across most major occupational groups in May. Increases were most pronounced for beneficiaries who were last employed in business, finance and administration occupations (+12,000; +22.0%), followed by sales and service occupations (+8,600; +10.9%) and in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (+8,300; +5.1%).”
In May, slight declines in the number of regular EI recipients were recorded among young men and women aged 15 to 24 (-1.7%; -800), as well as among core-aged (25 to 54 years old) men (-1.3%; -2,600). At the same time, there was an increase among women aged 55 and older (+1.9%; +1,000), said the report.
Compared with a year earlier, there were increases across all major demographic groups in May, with the largest proportional increases recorded among core-aged men (+10.8%; +19,000), older women (+10.3%; +5,000) and core-aged women (+9.2%; +11,000), added Statistics Canada.
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Entrepreneur. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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