Employment Insurance Enrollment Grows, But Manufacturing and Construction Lag

Last month, employment insurance subscribers increased by nearly 270,000, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth exceeding 200,000. The number of regular employment insurance members rose by 269,000 year-on-year to 15.807 million, a 1.7% increase compared to the same month last year.

By industry, the service sector led the overall employment growth with a 2.6% increase. The healthcare and welfare sector added 117,000 subscribers, and the accommodation and food service sector added 54,000, with most industries seeing subscriber growth.

In contrast, the manufacturing sector saw a decrease of 8,000 subscribers, marking its 11th consecutive month of decline. The construction sector experienced a drop of 88,000 subscribers, continuing a downward trend for the 33rd consecutive month. This divergence highlights a clear disparity in the labor market, with jobs actually decreasing in the manufacturing and construction fields.

The increase in employment insurance subscribers by age group was concentrated among the elderly population aged 60 and over. This group saw the largest increase with 206,000 new subscribers, followed by those in their 30s (88,000) and 50s (47,000). However, subscribers decreased among young people under 29 (-64,000) and those in their 40s (-7,000).