About 569,000 Canadians received regular Employment Insurance benefits in December 2025, up 0.4 per cent from November, as the number of recipients continued to level off after rising earlier in the year.
The monthly increase of 2,500 beneficiaries marked little change from the previous month, according to Statistics Canada data released Thursday. On a year-over-year basis, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits rose by 81,000, or 16.7 per cent, with most of the gains occurring between January and July 2025.
Labour Force Survey data show the unemployment rate trended higher through most of 2025, reaching 7.1 per cent in August and September before easing to 6.8 per cent in December.
Changes in the number of EI beneficiaries can reflect shifts in new claims, people returning to work, individuals who have exhausted their benefits and others who no longer qualify.
Core-aged men post third straight monthly increase
In December, the number of core-aged men — those aged 25 to 54 — receiving regular EI benefits rose by 2,900, or 1.3 per cent. That was the third consecutive monthly increase for the group, bringing total gains since September to 10,000, or 4.8 per cent.
Young men aged 15 to 24 also recorded an increase of 600 beneficiaries, or 1.5 per cent. In contrast, the number of women aged 55 and older receiving benefits fell by 700, or 1.1 per cent.
Over the 12 months ending in December, regular EI beneficiaries increased across all major demographic groups. The largest percentage increases were among:
- Core-aged women: up 18.2 per cent (+22,000)
- Women aged 55 and older: up 18.2 per cent (+9,000)
- Core-aged men: up 17.0 per cent (+33,000)
Ontario and B.C. see monthly gains
Ontario and British Columbia were the only provinces to post notable monthly increases in December.
Ontario recorded an increase of 3,200 beneficiaries, or 1.7 per cent. Most of that growth occurred in the Toronto census metropolitan area, which rose by 1,800 beneficiaries, or 2.2 per cent, and in Windsor, up 500, or 7.7 per cent.
British Columbia added 700 beneficiaries, or 1.2 per cent, with Vancouver accounting for 600 of that increase, or 2.2 per cent.
Those gains were partly offset by declines in Quebec (down 1,600; -1.2 per cent), Manitoba (down 400; -1.9 per cent) and Prince Edward Island (down 100; -1.5 per cent).
Compared with a year earlier, regular EI recipients increased in every province. The largest year-over-year gains were in Ontario (up 30,000; +18.4 per cent), Quebec (up 22,000; +21.1 per cent), Alberta (up 12,000; +21.9 per cent) and British Columbia (up 11,000; +21.9 per cent).
Trades and transport occupations lead increases
By occupation, the largest monthly increase occurred among people who last worked in trades, transport and equipment operator roles. That group rose by 4,100 beneficiaries, or 2.2 per cent, marking a fifth straight monthly increase.
Other monthly gains were recorded among those previously employed in natural and applied sciences (up 800; +1.7 per cent) and in art, culture, recreation and sport (up 500; +3.6 per cent).
At the same time, the number of recipients declined among those who last worked in sales and service (down 1,400; -1.4 per cent) and manufacturing and utilities (down 800; -1.9 per cent).
On a year-over-year basis, all major occupational groups saw increases. The largest gains were among:
- Trades, transport and equipment operators: up 23,000 (+13.6 per cent)
- Business, finance and administration: up 14,000 (+22.5 per cent)
- Sales and service: up 12,000 (+15.3 per cent)
For employers and HR leaders, the data point to continued labour market adjustment heading into 2026, with higher benefit use than a year ago despite signs of stabilization in recent months.
