OTTAWA - Alberta and Ontario showing the fastest growth rates as 778,700 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits in May - the highest since such data became available in 1997.

The figure is 65,600, or 9.2 per cent, more than in April. Statistics Canada reports the number of initial and renewal claims received in May increased 5.2 per cent to 332,800.

The number of regular EI beneficiaries has risen by 278,300, or 55.6 per cent, since employment peaked last October.

All provinces and territories have reported increases since then.

The largest percentage growth in the number of regular beneficiaries over the seven-month period was in Alberta, followed by British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.