EI premium rate dips to 1.63 percent for 2026

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission has set the 2026 EI premium rate at 1.63 percent of insurable earnings, down from 1.64 percent in 2025. Maximum insurable earnings rise to $68,900 from $65,700.

The two changes pull in opposite directions. If you earn below $65,700, the lower rate means you pay slightly less EI in 2026. If you earn at or above the new ceiling, more of your pay is insurable, so your annual premium increases by roughly $46 to the new maximum of $1,123.07.

Employers continue to pay 1.4 times the employee premium, which puts the 2026 employer maximum at $1,572.30 per employee. For a ten-person team at the ceiling, that is a payroll cost of about $15,700 for EI alone.

Quebec workers pay a lower EI rate because the province runs its own parental insurance plan (QPIP), which is collected separately. If you operate in multiple provinces, make sure your payroll software applies the right combination.

This article is general information based on published CRA figures and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Confirm details for your situation before acting.