How many hours do you need for EI in Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John?
You need 665 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks to qualify for EI regular benefits in the Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John region, for claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026. That is because the region's unemployment rate is 6.8%.
- Unemployment rate
- 6.8%
- Hours needed
- 665
- Weeks of EI
- 15 to 38
- Best weeks used
- 21
With exactly 665 hours you would get 15 weeks of benefits. With 1,820 hours or more, 38 weeks. EI pays 55% of your average pay over your best 21 weeks, up to $729 a week.
Places in this EI region
Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Dieppe, Riverview, Quispamsis, Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfield, Oromocto, Sussex, Hampton, Kingston, and other nearby communities. Not sure? Check your postal code with Service Canada.
How the hours needed changed in 2026
| Claims starting | Unemployment rate | Hours needed |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 11 to Feb 7 | 6.1% | 665 |
| Feb 8 to Mar 14 | 5.8% | 700 |
| Mar 15 to Apr 11 | 6.0% | 700 |
| Apr 12 to May 9 | 6.4% | 665 |
| May 10 to Jun 6 | 6.6% | 665 |
| Jun 7 to Jul 11 | 6.7% | 665 |
| Jul 12 to Aug 8 | 6.6% | 665 |
| Aug 9 to Sep 5 | 6.6% | 665 |
| Sep 6 to Oct 10 | 6.6% | 665 |
| Oct 11 to Nov 7 | 6.7% | 665 |
| Nov 8 to Dec 5 | 6.8% | 665 |
Rates are seasonally adjusted 3-month averages from Statistics Canada, published by Service Canada. The rate on the week your claim starts is the one that counts.
Common questions
How many hours do I need for EI in Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John?
665 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, for claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026, when the Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John region's unemployment rate is 6.8%.
How many weeks of EI can I get in Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John?
From 15 weeks with 665 hours to 38 weeks with 1,820 hours or more, for claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026.
How much does EI pay in Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John?
55% of your average weekly pay over your best 21 weeks, up to $729 a week in 2026.
Sources
Rules checked against Service Canada on November 14, 2026. Regional unemployment rates are for November 8 to December 5, 2026, from Service Canada's EI economic region pages. They change every month.
- EI regular benefits: eligibility, page dated October 15, 2026
- EI regular benefits: how much you could receive, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI temporary measures for major economic conditions, page dated October 6, 2026
- EI regular benefits: how to apply, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI regular benefits: while you are receiving benefits, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI and repayment of benefits at income tax time, page dated December 31, 2025
- Summary of the 2027 Actuarial Report on the EI premium rate, page dated September 17, 2026
- Employment Insurance Regulations, Schedule I (EI regions)
- Find your EI economic region by postal code
This is an estimate, not a decision by Service Canada. Only Service Canada can decide your claim. We do not save anything you enter.