Monthly Employment Insurance Benefits

TWIG
26 February 2026

Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries in the Toronto CMA rose from about 47,000 in January 2023 to over 78,000 by December 2025, indicating growing reliance on EI. The data shows a typical seasonal pattern, with numbers dipping in late spring and peaking in July - August each year.

While these seasonal cycles are expected, the overall upward trend suggests increasing economic pressures. Rising tariffs and related trade disruptions may be contributing to higher EI claims, particularly in industries tied to manufacturing supply chains.

Author

TWIG

Toronto Workforce Innovation Group is a non-profit and independent research organization devoted to finding and promoting solutions to employment-related problems in the Toronto Region.

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