LONDON, the South East and the North West were the hardest hit by the coronavirus shut down, new furlough figures have revealed.
In a geographical breakdown of where people across the UK have been furuloughed, the numbers were highest in these areas.
More than one million were put on the coronavirus job retention scheme in both London and the South West.
And 828,000 were furloughed in the North West too.
That compares to just 559,000 in the East Midlands, and 316,000 in Wales.
In total nearly nine million people have been furloughed across the UK since March.
Most of them were in the automobile (1.6m) or food services and accommodation sector (1.4million) the latest stats showed.
800,000 were furloughed in manufacturing, and 679,000 in construction.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said today: “Our unprecedented coronavirus support schemes are protecting millions of vital jobs and businesses across the whole of the United Kingdom – and will help ensure we recover from this outbreak as swiftly as possible.
“We have extended both schemes so they will continue to provide measured support across the UK as we start to reopen the economy.”
Yesterday was the cut off date for applying for the furlough scheme – but those who are on it can continue to get funding support.
1.1million businesses have been able to claim up to 70 per cent pay for their workers, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.
But in the next few months the scheme will wind down, before being completely shut by the end of October.
Businesses will have to start paying towards their employee’s national insurance costs from August.
And they will need to start topping up wages from September, where the Government support will taper away.
Across the whole of the UK, 70 per cent of those potentially eligible for support through the separate self-employment scheme made a claim, with the average value of claim amounting to £2,900, HMRC said today.
2.6million people have made claims for grant support, totaling £7.5billion.
Many businesses are expected to have to lay off workers, however, as hundreds of thousands of them have been shut for nearly three months.
However, from next week shops will be able to open once again, and from July pubs and restaurants are expected to be able to return.
Outdoor attractions including zoos and theme parks will too be able to open their doors to customers in hopes of returning to a new normal.
