The number of people receiving Canadian Employment Insurance jobless benefits fell by 24,150, or 3.5%, in March on a month-over-month basis to 668,060 -- the sixth month in a row of decline, Statistics Canada reported today. The number is down 2.8% from a year ago.

In Ontario, the number of people receiving Employment Insurance fell by 13,090, or 5.9%, to 207,370 in March from the previous month.

The number of initial and renewal Employment Insurance claims in March fell by 6,290, or 2.7%, from February to 228,980.

Employment Insurance provides financial assistance for unemployed workers.