Employment and Social Development
How Employment and Social Development spent its budget in fiscal year 2023-24, on a Volume II appropriations basis.
Department Spending
In FY 2023-24,
$97.28B
was spent by Employment and Social Development
In FY 2023-24,
18.9%
of federal spending was by Employment and Social Development
Established in 2005, ESDC is a federal department responsible for supporting Canadians through social programs and workforce development. It administers key programs such as Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and skills training initiatives. ESDC also oversees Service Canada, which delivers government services directly to the public.
ESDC spent $97.28B in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 18.9% of the $513.9 billion in overall federal spending, making it one of the highest-spending federal departments.
Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging challenges. Since 2005, when ESDC was first established, overall federal spending has risen 62.9%, while ESDC spending has increased 1,485%.
The department's spending grew at a rate significantly higher than overall spending, reflecting shifts in federal priorities. In 2024, ESDC accounted for 18.9% of all federal spending, 16.51 percentage points higher than in 2005.
Major legislation, economic conditions, and external factors can impact ESDC's spending.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal support programs led to a temporary surge in spending. ESDC expenditures increased from $63.3 billion in 2019 to $169.2 billion in 2021 before stabilizing in recent years.
Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect.
Direct spending refers to money allocated to government programs, employee salaries, and administrative expenses. Indirect spending includes federal transfers to individuals and provinces.
In FY 2024, ESDC transferred 63% of its total spending to individuals and provinces.
Federal departments often include multiple agencies and service delivery arms. In FY 2024, ESDC's highest-expenditure entities included:
The Department is currently led by the Minister of Jobs and Families who is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and then formally sworn into office at Rideau Hall. They take the Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance and become a member of the King's Privy Council for Canada.
These Ministers are some of the cabinet members who serve at the Prime Minister's discretion. Their tenure typically ends when they resign, are replaced, or when a new Prime Minister takes office and appoints a new cabinet. Outgoing ministers remain in their roles until their successors are sworn in.
How did Employment and Social Development spend its budget in 2023-24?
Spending by entity, FY 2023-24
Department of Employment and Social Development
Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
$97.25B
$21.6M
$15M
Employment and Social Development’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
Line items
Complete appropriation (vote/allotment) and transfer-payment lines, in dollars. Search, sort, and download the full table.
| Vote | Description | Total available | Used ▼ | Lapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $82,841,659,465 | $82,840,593,310 | $1,066,155 |
| Vote 5 | Grants and contributions | $10,121,866,980 | $9,823,590,359 | $298,276,621 |
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures | $4,728,424,222 | $4,369,533,656 | $358,890,566 |
| Vote 10 | Debt write-off—Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans | $215,518,566 | $212,466,789 | $3,051,777 |
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures | $12,821,420 | $12,072,196 | $749,224 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $15,659,741 | $8,623,315 | $7,036,426 |
| Vote 5 | Grants and contributions | $8,500,000 | $8,500,000 | $0 |
| Vote 1 | Program expenditures | $7,086,335 | $6,389,195 | $697,140 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $1,017,009 | $1,017,009 | $0 |
Explore other federal departments
Employment and Social Development figures are on a Volume II appropriations basis and will not match the Volume I consolidated headline totals. See the methodology for details.
