While there wasn’t much change in the number of people receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in the Belleville Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in May from the month before, there was a major difference on a year-to-year basis.
Statistics Canada reports that in May there were 1,310 people collecting EI benefits, down by 20 from April.
However in May of last year during pandemic restrictions there were 5,350 individuals on EI.
On a year-to-year basis May’s number was 75% lower than last year’s total.
The Belleville CMA includes Belleville, Quinte West, Stirling-Rawdon, and Tyendinaga/Deseronto.
Across Canada 499,000 people were on Employment Insurance in May, 70% lower than May of 2021.
