On September 12, 2025, the Canada Employment Insurance Commission announced the new Employment Insurance (EI) premium rates and maximum insurable earnings (MIE) for 2026 as follows:
- The MIE will increase from $65,700 to $68,900;
- The EI premium rate (outside Quebec) will decrease from 1.64% to 1.63%, while the employer rate will drop from 2.30% to 2.28%; and.
- The EI premium rate (within Quebec) will decrease from 1.31% to 1.30%, while the employer rate will drop from 1.83% to 1.82%.
Employers should:
- Stay informed about the updated EI rates 2026 to ensure financial planning and compliance;
- Review and adjust budgets to account for the new EI rates, as they will affect payroll calculations;
- Ensure payroll systems and software are updated to incorporate the revised EI premium rates and maximum insurable earnings;
- Ensure accurate EI deductions for employees to prevent payroll errors; and
- Ensure accurate EI premiums for employers to prevent remittance errors.