The number of people receiving regular monthly employment insurance benefits in Greater Victoria dropped by 200, or 15 per cent, over the last 12 months, according to Statistics Canada.
In August, 3,170 people were receiving benefits in the region, compared with 3,370 at the same time in 2011.
Vancouver also saw a drop. There were 24,200 receiving benefits in August, compared with 26,780 in August 2011, a drop of 9.6 per cent.
British Columbia saw a drop of 5.8 per cent year over year to 57,690. However, that number represented a 3.4 per cent increase over the number of beneficiaries in July 2012.
Statistics Canada said the number of people across Canada on employment insurance rose by 16,400, or 3.2 per cent, to 534,400 in August after three months of little change. The number of beneficiaries rose notably in Quebec, while Alberta, B.C., New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Ontario also had increases.
Meanwhile, the federal agency says the number of initial and renewed claims for EI edged down 1.3 per cent to 229,400 in August.
To receive benefits, individuals must first submit a claim and the number of claims provides an indication of the number of people who could become beneficiaries.
