Employment Insurance (EI) in Canada –  The rate of eligibility was 85.8% in 2013, up from 81.9% StatCana finds

The rate of eligibility for receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in 2013 was 85.8%, up from 81.9% in 2012.

To be eligible to receive regular benefits, unemployed individuals must have contributed to the EI program, met the criteria for job separation and accumulated enough insurable hours (see note to readers).

Increases in eligibility rates for regular EI benefits from 2012 to 2013 were observed for all age groups: 15 to 24 (45.2% to 54.5%), 25 to 44 (86.9% to 89.7%) and those aged 45 and older (88.9% to 90.8%).

From 2012 to 2013, eligibility increased notably for men (81.9% to 89.8%) and edged down slightly for women (81.9% to 80.0%).

In 2013, 820,000 unemployed individuals contributed to the EI program, up slightly from the 808,000 contributors in 2012.

Of the 820,000 contributors in 2013, 624,000 had a job separation that met the EI program criteria. Of these, 536,000 or 85.8% had worked enough hours and were eligible to receive EI, the highest rate since 2009.

Chart 1 
Employment Insurance contributors with enough insurable hours as a share of all contributors with a valid job separation

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at The Daily — Employment Insurance Coverage Survey, 2013.