2023 Survey Examines Employment Insurance Coverage in Canada

The 2023 Employment Insurance Coverage Survey provides insights into the accessibility of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in Canada. The survey highlights the reasons why some individuals may not qualify for these benefits. It is noted that the number of insured hours required to qualify for regular benefits varies by region, influenced by the local unemployment rate. For maternity and parental benefits, the requirement is 600 insured hours, except in Quebec where different criteria apply.

The survey, conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada, involved 12,590 participants. These individuals were either unemployed or had a recent status in the labor market that made them potentially eligible for EI. The survey is administered four times a year, with data collected from a sub-sample of Labour Force Survey respondents.

The survey results are used to assess the coverage of the EI program and are part of a broader effort to report on sustainable development goals, specifically aiming to address poverty. The data is seasonally adjusted to account for variations and provide a clearer picture of trends over time.