Source: The Canadian Press

Statistics Canada reports 692,700 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits in September.

That’s 14,600, or 2.2%, more than in August.

The number of regular beneficiaries has been hovering around the 690,000 mark throughout most of this year and the September figure was 16.5% below the recessionary peak of June 2009.

The number receiving benefits rose in every province in September, with the biggest increases in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta.

Initial and renewal claims numbered 249,600, down by 7,200 or 2.8% from August.

Provincially, the declines in September occurred mainly in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.