Little change in Canadian jobless claims

• Tweet

OTTAWA, May 24 (UPI) -- The number of Canadians receiving federal jobless benefits dipped slightly on a monthly basis in March to 549,400, Statistics Canada reported Thursday.

That represents 3,400 fewer beneficiaries of Employment Insurance on a monthly basis as the unemployment rate in March was 7.2 percent, the agency said.

"There were more people receiving benefits in March in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick," StatsCan said. "At the same time, the number of beneficiaries decreased in Alberta."

Nova Scotia's increase in EI beneficiaries was notable at 5.4 percent, while Alberta's 2.9 percent decrease continued a months-long downward trend, the report said.