Largest number of claims in P.E.I., Alberta and New Brunswick
The number of people receiving regular employment insurance (EI) benefits in April was down by 6,500 to 598,400, according to Statistics Canada.
The decrease of 1.1 per cent compared to March marked the seventh consecutive month of declines. Beneficiaries decreased in six provinces, with the fastest declines in British Columbia and Alberta.
In April, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits declined in six provinces, with the largest decreases in B.C. (down 3.7 per cent to 67,000) and Alberta (down 3.7 per cent to 37,600). Both provinces have had declines in beneficiaries for seven consecutive months, said Statistics Canada.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of beneficiaries declined 1.4 per cent to 35,800.
There were increases in the number of people receiving regular benefits in P.E.I. (1.8 per cent), Manitoba (1.5 per cent), New Brunswick (1.4 per cent) and Ontario (0.9 per cent).
But the number of people making initial and renewal claims for EI benefits increased 2.8 per cent in April to 234,000. The increase followed three consecutive months of declines in claims.
The biggest increases in claims came from: Prince Edward Island (5.2 per cent), Alberta (4.6 per cent), New Brunswick (4.1 per cent) and B.C. (3.1 per cent).
The number of claims declined in Manitoba by 2.6 per cent, said Statistics Canada.
