The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits increased by 17,000 (+3.4%) to 520,000 in April. This followed an increase of 3.1% in February and little change in March. Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of regular EI beneficiaries was up by 58,000 (+12.7%) in April, according to a Statistics Canada report.
Data from the Labour Force Survey indicate that the unemployment rate was up 0.7 percentage points year over year to 6.9% in April, it said.
“There were more EI recipients with regular benefits across all major demographic groups in April. Core-aged (25-to-54 years old) men (+6,500; +3.3%) and core-aged women (+6,100; +5.0%) recorded the largest increases. The number of recipients was also up among women aged 55 years and older (+1,600; +3.1%) and men of the same age group (+1,500; +1.8%), as well as among young (15-to-24 years old) men (+1,000; +2.9%) and women (+400; +3.1%),” said Statistics Canada.
“Compared with one year earlier, there were also widespread increases in the number of people receiving regular EI benefits. The largest increases were among core-aged men (+28,000; +15.8%) and core-aged women (+14,000; +11.6%).”
In April, the number of beneficiaries receiving regular EI benefits increased the most among recipients who were last employed in business, finance and administration occupations (+5,300; +8.5%), followed by those last employed in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (+3,400; +2.0%). Increases were also recorded among recipients who were last employed in manufacturing and utilities (+3,100; +8.1%), mostly in Ontario. At the national level, the number of EI recipients also increased in sales and service occupations (+2,800; +3.4%), said the report.
Compared with April 2024, the number of regular EI recipients was up across all major occupational groups in April 2025. Increases were most pronounced for beneficiaries who were last employed in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (+20,000; +12.7%) and business, finance and administration occupations (+10,600; +18.7%), 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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