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Albertans are rushing to collect employment insurance benefits at a record pace, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.
"In Alberta, the number of regular beneficiaries climbed by 32.1 per cent to 42,200 in March, marking the fastest monthly increase for that province since comparable data are available," the federal agency said in a news release.
"The number of Albertans receiving benefits has risen at an increasing pace every month since October 2008, bringing the increase over the five months to 131.1 per cent."
Alberta recorded the biggest monthly increase in Canada.
Over the last 12 months, the number of beneficiaries more than doubled in almost every large centre in Alberta, and tripled in the Fort McMurray area, the agency said.
Edmonton`s total jumped 185 per cent to 14,700 while Calgary rose a similar percentage to 15,400.
Employment statistics released earlier this month show the province gained 5,700 jobs in April. But unemployment crept up to its highest rate since 2002 -- six per cent from 5.8 per cent in March -- because Alberta`s labour force grew by 9,400 people. Jobs had declined in the province during January, February and March.
British Columbia saw regular benefits jump 26.7 per cent to 82,200 in March -- also the biggest monthly increase for that province. Since October, the number of IE beneficiaries have increased 80.5 per cent.
The number of Canadians receiving benefits jumped 10.6 per cent -- up 65,300 to 681,400 -- in March from the previous month.
"The increase in March was the largest since the labour market started to deteriorate last October," the agency said, with beneficiaries climbing 36.2 per cent over the past six months.
"From October to March, labour market conditions in Canada deteriorated significantly and employment fell sharply. In April, employment increased, boosted by a gain in self-employment," the agency said.
Meanwhile, the number of initial and renewal claims received in March were down 1.9 per cent from the month before
Read the full article here.
"In Alberta, the number of regular beneficiaries climbed by 32.1 per cent to 42,200 in March, marking the fastest monthly increase for that province since comparable data are available," the federal agency said in a news release.
"The number of Albertans receiving benefits has risen at an increasing pace every month since October 2008, bringing the increase over the five months to 131.1 per cent."
Alberta recorded the biggest monthly increase in Canada.
Over the last 12 months, the number of beneficiaries more than doubled in almost every large centre in Alberta, and tripled in the Fort McMurray area, the agency said.
Edmonton`s total jumped 185 per cent to 14,700 while Calgary rose a similar percentage to 15,400.
Employment statistics released earlier this month show the province gained 5,700 jobs in April. But unemployment crept up to its highest rate since 2002 -- six per cent from 5.8 per cent in March -- because Alberta`s labour force grew by 9,400 people. Jobs had declined in the province during January, February and March.
British Columbia saw regular benefits jump 26.7 per cent to 82,200 in March -- also the biggest monthly increase for that province. Since October, the number of IE beneficiaries have increased 80.5 per cent.
The number of Canadians receiving benefits jumped 10.6 per cent -- up 65,300 to 681,400 -- in March from the previous month.
"The increase in March was the largest since the labour market started to deteriorate last October," the agency said, with beneficiaries climbing 36.2 per cent over the past six months.
"From October to March, labour market conditions in Canada deteriorated significantly and employment fell sharply. In April, employment increased, boosted by a gain in self-employment," the agency said.
Meanwhile, the number of initial and renewal claims received in March were down 1.9 per cent from the month before
Read the full article here.