The number of Employment Insurance beneficiaries in Quebec has decreased

The number of beneficiaries of employment insurance in Quebec decreased by 4.6% in September 2022, compared to August, a decline also recorded in all provinces of the country.

In total, 109,730 Quebecers were able to take advantage of employment insurance in September 2022, or 5,270 fewer than in August, according to Statistics Canada data published Thursday. A year ago, in September 2021, the number of claimants was 282,630 (-61.2%).

In September in Quebec, the largest relative declines in the number of regular employment insurance beneficiaries at the regional level were recorded in the metropolitan census areas (CMAs) of Ottawa-Gatineau (-9.6%; -310), Montreal (-4.5%; -1930) and Sherbrooke (-1930). 6%;-160).

CMAs in Quebec (-2.6%; -200), Saguenay (-1.5%; -40) and Trois-Rivières (-0.9%; -20) recorded the smallest declines.

The number of people receiving regular EI benefits decreased in every county across the country in September compared to August. The largest declines were seen in New Brunswick (-19.7%; -7000), Nova Scotia (-11.5%; -3000) and Manitoba (-10.2%; -2000). Ontario (-1.1%; -1000) and Prince Edward Island (-1.2%; -100) had the smallest declines.

Nationwide, the number of Canadians receiving benefits decreased by 27,000 (-5.6%), bringing the total number of claimants down to 455,000. A level similar to that observed in February 2020 (447,000), prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” it noted. Statistics Canada.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points in September 2022 to 5.2%, due to fewer people looking for work.