Statistics Canada EI Data, January 2026. via https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260325/cg-a002-eng.htm
OTTAWA — Employment trends in Canada are showing signs of strain, with new data indicating rising joblessness pressures in several provinces, with Alberta taking the lead, according to Statistics Canada.
The agency reports the national unemployment rate stood at 6.5 per cent in January 2026, following an upward trend through most of 2025 that peaked at 7.1 per cent in late summer.
While the number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits fell slightly month over month, broader trends suggest more people have relied on support over the past year, with the total number of EI recipients up 13.4 per cent compared with January 2025.
Alberta posted the largest year over year increase in EI beneficiaries, rising 18.5 per cent, the highest among all provinces.
Statistics Canada says that increase reflects underlying labour market pressures, even as monthly figures showed a slight decline of about 1,600 recipients in January.
British Columbia and Ontario followed with increases of 18.2 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, while Quebec saw a 13.9 per cent rise.
The data suggests that while short term improvements may be emerging in some regions, the broader trend points to a growing number of Canadians experiencing periods of unemployment over the past year.
In Alberta, the increase comes despite the province’s historically strong ties to resource employment, with fluctuations in sectors such as trades, transport and equipment operators contributing to changes in employment insurance usage.
Nationally, the number of EI recipients declined by 11,000 in January to 555,000, driven largely by decreases among men aged 25 to 54.
Statistics Canada says shifts in EI numbers can reflect a range of factors, including people returning to work, exhausting benefits or leaving the program.
However, the agency notes that year over year increases across most demographic groups and provinces point to persistent labour market challenges.
The largest increases in EI use over the past year were among core aged workers and older women, suggesting broader economic pressures across sectors.
Despite the monthly decline, the data indicates Canada’s labour market remains under pressure following a year of rising unemployment, with Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario leading the increase in joblessness indicators.
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