On September 13, 2024, the Canada Employment Insurance Commission announced the new Employment Insurance (EI) rates and maximum insurable earnings for 2025 as follows:
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maximum insurable earnings will increase from $63,200 to $65,700;
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EI premium rate will decrease from 1.66 per cent to 1.64 per cent outside of Quebec, while the employer EI rate will be reduced from 2.32 per cent to 2.30 per cent; and
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the EI premium rate within Quebec will decrease from 1.32 per cent to 1.31 per cent, while the employer EI rate will be reduced from 1.848 per cent to 1.83 per cent.
For employers who offer qualified wage-loss plans to employees, the 2025 Reduced EI premium rates are:
2025 Reduced EI Premium Rates |
|||
Category 1 |
Category 2 |
Category 3 |
Category 4 |
Multiple |
Multiple |
Multiple |
Multiple |
1.269 |
1.172 |
1.173 |
1.150 |
Employer EI Reduced Rates (within Quebec)
Category 1 |
Category 2 |
Category 3 |
Category 4 |
Multiple |
Multiple |
Multiple |
Multiple |
1.236 |
1.114 |
1.116 |
1.087 |
Employers must:
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stay informed about the updated EI rates for 2025 to ensure financial planning and compliance;
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review and adjust budgets to accommodate the new EI rates, as they will impact payroll calculations;
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update payroll systems and software to reflect the revised EI premium rates and maximum insurable earnings; and
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ensure accurate EI deductions for employees and employers to prevent payroll errors.