Number of EI recipients fell in September: StatsCan

Initial and renewal claims also decrease

The number of people receiving regular employment insurance (EI) benefits decreased in September.

The number of beneficiaries was down 15,400 or 2.7 per cent to 549,300 in September after an increase in August. The number of beneficiaries has been on a year-long downward trend, according to Statistics Canada.

The number of beneficiaries fell in most provinces, with the largest percentage declines in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Claims down in September

After an increase in August, the number of initial and renewal claims fell by 27,100 or 10.5 per cent to 230,700 in September. Claims fell in every province, with the largest percentage declines in Quebec where they fell by 19 per cent, Saskatchewan where they were down 9.8 per cent, Manitoba which saw declines of 7.5 per cent and Ontario where there was a decrease of 7.3 per cent.

Number of beneficiaries declines in most provinces

Most provinces posted a decrease in the number of beneficiaries, with the largest percentage declines occurring in Alberta (7.3 per cent), Saskatchewan (4.9 per cent) and Manitoba and Ontario, where both provinces saw a decline of 3.6 per cent. The declines in these provinces extend an overall downward trend that began a year ago, according to Statistics Canada.

In contrast, the number of beneficiaries increased in Newfoundland and Labrador (three per cent) in September and edged up in Prince Edward Island (1.2 per cent).

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