Research summary – Employment Insurance usage and the labour market experience of immigrants

Official title: The Labour Market Experiences of Immigrants: An Analysis of Employment Insurance Usage, Eligibility and Contribution Patterns

Authors of report: Michelle Laing and Samuel Laryea

Why this study

The Employment Insurance (EI) program is one of the largest income security programs for working-age adults in Canada. It is useful to understand the experiences of immigrants and Canadian-born workers with the program.

What we did

The study used data for the period 2006 to 2019 from 2 datasets:

• Employment Insurance Coverage Survey (EICS)
• Labour Force Survey (LFS)

The analysis relied primarily on descriptive techniques.

What we found

• Immigrants had higher unemployment rates but lower employment rates relative to their Canadian-born counterparts
• A lower share of immigrants:
• were in insurable employment
• were eligible for EI benefits
• made an EI claim
• received regular EI benefits
• A higher share of immigrants received maternity or parental benefits
• The average number of weeks that immigrants claimed benefits was higher. However, the average benefit amount was lower

What it means

The EI program provides temporary income support for all eligible workers during unemployment. The study showed that immigrants made fewer EI claims between 2006 and 2019.

It is important to find out why immigrants do not use the EI program at the same rates as their Canadian-born counterparts.

Contact Us

Skills and Employment Branch, Labour Market Information Directorate, Policy Research and Geomatics Division

Email: ESDC.NC.SSPB.RESEARCH-RECHERCHE.DGPSS.CN.EDSC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca