Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The number of people collecting Employment Insurance in the NWT is on the decline according to Statistics Canada, but this doesn't necessarily mean there is more work.

The stats released this week show EI collection was down 14% this March from March of 2011 and also down 7% from the previous month.

However, the executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, Tim Doyle, said the job market seems to be shrinking in the capital.

"A lot of companies are tightening the purse strings and maybe going on working with less staff than they normally would and I think some of the opportunities have gone to the surrounding jurisdictions as well. Yukon is still quite hot."

Doyle said this is just part of the business cycle that happens on a regular basis.

"In a year or two from now with the changes that are being made, you're going to see some good results come through because the federal government and the GNWT are doing everything they can to stimulate the economy."

Doyle suggested that part of the reason for the drop in the numbers of people receiving EI might be that their benefits are running out or they're taking work in other fields.

CJCD Mix 100 News