Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development along with Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu speaks to the media in Ottawa, Ontario Sept 20, 2012. Finley announced the Harper government will introduce the "Helping Families in Need" act. (ANDRE FORGET/QMI AGENCY)

The unemployed will either get a hand finding work or a kick in the pants to get moving in their job search thanks to Employment Insurance (EI) changes now in effect.

Among the changes that took effect Sunday is a new Job Alerts system that sends e-mails to subscribers twice a day about jobs that match their skills.

"The new Job Alerts system is an important part of our government's plan to better connect Canadians with available jobs in their area," Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said in a statement.

Officials say the new system is easier to use than the system it replaced.

It will also highlight alternative job vacancies in fields related to a job-seeker's preferred type of work.