EI Numbers Up A Lot in Alberta

A snapshot into the difficult economic times facing us here in Alberta was delivered today, when Stats Canada released their most recent numbers regarding Employment Insurance. Slumping oil prices have led to a large spike in the number of Albertans that are now receiving EI benefits while they’re out of work.

From February to March of this year Alberta saw an increase of 8.9% when it comes to EI beneficiaries, or 38,880 more people. It’s the 5th consecutive month that the province has seen an increase, and areas outside of Calgary and Edmonton have been hit the hardest.

Calgary saw an increase of +7.8%, Edmonton +5.5%, while the rest of Alberta was +13.3%

When compared to the national average (+1.8%) Alberta stands in stark contrast, while Saskatchewan had the second highest increase in the country (+3.8%).

Bob Will is a Job Developer with Being Human Services here in Medicine Hat, and shares the advice about EI that he’s been giving to people that come in.

“As soon as you know you’re not going to be working, go online or up to the EI offices and get your claim started right away. Because there has been such an influx of people being unemployed, the wait times and processing times have been lengthened.”

The 8.9% increase is the second largest in Alberta since 2009, which was during the height of the global economic downturn.

-Matt Nemeth

MNemeth@jpbg.ca