Government’s Plan for Jobs pay off as figures indicate 1.3 million fewer employees accessing furlough.
An optimistic outlook for the labour market indeed. At an all-time low this year, statistics published by GOV.UK on the 3rd June reveal that the number of workers relying on government support fell to 3.4 million. March and April showed 1.3 million employees moving off furlough, with some of the highest falls in the under 18s and 18 – 24 age group. Furthermore, the furlough numbers continued to fall in May. It evidently appears that government’s Plan for Jobs to protect and create jobs across the UK is working.
The CJRS (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) since the start of the pandemic has supported 11.5 million workers and 1.3 million employers. Current figures also show that 2.8 million people received £24 billion in support from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. HMRC data likewise have indicated that the number of workers being payrolled increased by 100,000 in April alone. Kickstarter programmes are too, creating thousands of new jobs for younger people.
The government has taken an incremental approach as they prepare the economy to wean from furlough which is expected to end in September this year. In July the government plans to implement a 10% contribution from employers towards the cost of paying for unworked hours. The aim over time is to support the growth of economic opportunities and help industries to resume business.