Sask. EI numbers drop in December

REGINA — The number of people in Saskatchewan receiving Employment Insurance dropped again in December compared to the same month a year ago.

The provincial government said that marks 21 consecutive months of year-over-year decreases.

There were 10,050 beneficiaries receiving regular EI benefits in Saskatchewan in the final month of 2011, a decrease of 2,230 or 18.2 per cent from December 2010, according to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada.

Each of the province’s eight large centres had year-over-year declines in the number of beneficiaries, with the largest occurring in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert.

“In Saskatoon, 1,800 people received benefits, down 19 per cent, extending a yearlong series of declines. In Regina, the number of beneficiaries fell 13.5 per cent to 1,300, continuing a series of declines that began in summer 2010,” Statistics Canada said Friday.

The provincial government said 1.2 per cent of the labour force population in Saskatchewan received regular EI benefits in December compared to 1.9 per cent nationally, ranking Saskatchewan second lowest among provinces, behind Alberta at one per cent.

“We are focused on keeping EI numbers moving in the right direction,” Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said in a government news release highlighting the numbers. “With more than 9,800 jobs posted on Saskjobs. ca, there are many employment opportunities around the province for Saskatchewan job seekers.”

Doug Elliott, publisher of monthly statistical newsletter Sask Trends Monitor, said the number of those receiving EI benefits is declining faster than the number of unemployed people, meaning there may be some other reasons contributing to the drop such as people falling off the eligibility list, going back to school or moving elsewhere for work.

But the continuing yearover-year declines in the number of EI recipients is generally viewed as favourable, he said.