The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits increased by 18,000 (+3.4%) to 541,000 in June. Over the first half of 2025, the number of beneficiaries has trended upwards, increasing by 54,000 (+11.0%) over this period, according to a recent report by Statistics Canada.
Compared with June 2024, the number of regular EI beneficiaries was up by 62,000 (+12.8%). Data from the Labour Force Survey indicate that the unemployment rate was up 0.5 percentage points year over year to 6.9% in June, said the federal agency.
“Compared with June 2024, the number of recipients receiving regular benefits increased among all major demographic groups in June 2025, with the largest proportional increases among women aged 55 and older (+21.7%; +10,700), core-aged women (+14.5%; +17,000), and core-aged men (+13.0%; +24,000).”
Provincially, the increase in the number of recipients with regular EI benefits in June was concentrated in Quebec and Ontario. Together, these two provinces accounted for 84.3% of the monthly national increase of 18,000 beneficiaries. The largest proportional increase in June was in Quebec (+6.1%; +7,300), followed by Ontario (+4.5%; +7,900), said the report.
In Quebec, the increase in the number of regular EI beneficiaries in June brought the cumulative increase over the first half of the year to 21,000 (+19.6%). In June, the Montréal census metropolitan area (CMA) posted an increase of 5.5% (+2,900), added Statistics Canada.
Photo: Viktoria Slowikowska
“For Ontario, the increase in June partly offset a decline in May as the number of regular EI beneficiaries resumed its upward trend with a net increase of 20,000 (+12.5%) over the first half of 2025. The Windsor (+23.3%; +1,600) and Oshawa (+18.7%; +1,000) CMAs recorded the largest proportional increases in the province for June. The Toronto CMA posted a 3.7% (+2,800) increase. Smaller proportional increases were recorded in Alberta (+2.3%; +1,300), Newfoundland and Labrador (+2.0%; +600) and Saskatchewan (+1.8%; +300) in June,” it explained.
“On a year-over-year basis, Ontario (+19.2%; +29,000) recorded the largest proportional increase among all provinces in June, followed by Alberta (+17.7%; +9,100), British Columbia (+14.0%; +6,700) and Quebec (+12.2%; +14,000).”
In June, said Statistics Canada, the number of beneficiaries receiving regular EI benefits increased the most among recipients who were last employed in sales and service occupations (+4,800; +5.4%), marking the fifth consecutive monthly increase for this professional category. Among those who last worked in manufacturing and utilities, the number of recipients with regular EI benefits increased by 4,300 (+11.0%), mostly in Ontario.
“Compared with June 2024, the number of regular EI recipients was up across all major occupational groups in June 2025. Increases were most pronounced for beneficiaries who were last employed in business, finance and administration occupations (+15,000; +25.0%), followed by sales and service occupations (+14,000; +17.3%), and trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (+13,000; +8.2%),” it noted.
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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