November 16, 2009

By the numbers

Number of Canadians on EI dropping

Construction GDP rises

The number of people in Canada collecting Employment Insurance (EI) fell in August, but Alberta and B.C.’s largest cities are still seeing year over year increases.

Statistics Canada recently reported that the number of regular Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries in Alberta fell by 1.8 per cent in August to 57,650. In B.C., the number dropped by 2.1 per cent to 88,670 people.

The number of people receiving benefits across the nation in August fell 2.4 per cent from July, which was the second consecutive monthly decline.

By contrast, the number of people collecting EI in B.C. and Alberta is up from August 2008.

In Calgary, the number grew from 5,700 in August 2008 to 22,100 in August 2009. Over the same period, the number of beneficiaries in Edmonton increased by 12,800 to 19,200.

In B.C., 13 of the 25 largest centres had twice as many beneficiaries compared to a year ago.

In Vancouver, the number increased from 17,200 in August 2008 to 39,000 in August 2009. At the same time, the number of recipients increased by 2,300 to 4,500 in Victoria.

Activity in the construction industry in Canada increased slightly in August, while output in the overall economy declined.

Statistics Canada released a report recently that said construction advanced by 0.2 per cent in August, which is the first increase since October 2008.

“A rise in engineering and repair work eclipsed reductions in both new residential and non-residential building construction,” said the report.

“Residential alterations and improvement work advanced.”

Real gross domestic product decreased 0.1 per cent in August after being unchanged in July.

According to the report, oil and gas extraction, and to a lesser extent, manufacturing were the main sources of the decline in August.

Wholesale trade, agriculture and the forestry sector also retreated.

Conversely, increases in the public sector, utilities, retail trade and construction mitigated these declines.

JOC NEWS SERVICE

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