In a signal of possible labour market easing, the number of workers collecting employment insurance benefits edged higher again in August, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
The national statistical agency reported that the ranks of EI beneficiaries rose for the fourth straight month, climbing by 2.1% to 448,000 in August.
“The number of regular EI recipients has generally trended up in recent months,” StatsCan said.
“Increases have been observed for both men and women, and across all age groups,” it said.
However, despite four months of rising EI rolls, the number of workers collecting benefits was still down by 42,000 (8.5%) from the same month last year, StatsCan said.
Previously, the agency reported that the jobless rate was unchanged at 5.5% in August.