Glossary
EI Premium Rate
The EI premium rate is the percentage of insurable earnings an employee pays toward Employment Insurance, set at 1.63% for 2026. It applies up to the annual maximum insurable earnings of $68,900, which caps the maximum employee premium at $1,123.07 for the year. Employers pay a higher rate equal to 1.4 times the employee rate on the same insurable earnings, unless they qualify for a reduced rate under an approved wage-loss plan, bringing the maximum employer premium to $1,572.30. Quebec sets its own, lower EI rate because it runs a parallel parental insurance program. Our 2026 CPP and EI maximums guide lays out both years side by side, including the 2027 figures once confirmed.
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