People receiving Canadian Employment Insurance jobless benefits rose 7.1% in September from the previous month to 818,000 with the largest increases in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, Statistics Canada reported today. The number of people receiving Employment Insurance benefits is up 63.5% from October 2008 when employment was at its peak.

However, the number of initial and renewal claims received in September fell 5.0% to 280,700.

In Ontario, the number of people receiving Employment Insurance benefits rose by 9.0% in September. The number was up by 25.0% in Alberta.

Employment Insurance provides financial help for unemployed workers.