Furlough figures drop in Worcester

The number of workers in the city on furlough dropped by more than 2,000 in a month according to the latest figures.

A total of 3,500 people were claiming furlough in Worcester by the end of May – down from 5,300 a month earlier.

This comes after the number of people claiming furlough in the city fell from 6,500 in March.

The number of people claiming furlough in the city has now more than halved since the start of the year when 7,400 people were receiving payments.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures show 19,900 people are currently claiming furlough in Worcestershire.

The decline in the number of people on furlough – a government subsidy paying 80 per cent of wages for those temporarily laid off – came as restrictions on retail and hospitality were eased in April and May.

However, retail and the hospitality industry, including hotels, pubs and restaurants, remains the area of work with the most people on furlough in Worcester.

A total of 1,070 people were furloughed from hotel and restaurant jobs at the end of May according to the figures.

The new figures come as the scale of government Covid support for businesses starts to ease despite nightclubs, pubs and travel firms still facing restrictions on what they can do.

As of Thursday (July 1), the government will only pay 70 per cent of wages to furloughed workers, with employers having to top up another 10 per cent.

The support will taper off until the scheme finishes for good at the end of September.

Business rates relief for those in the leisure, hospitality and retail sectors is also being curtailed falling from 100 per cent relief to a 66 per cent discount.

A total of 410 retail workers were still claiming furlough at the end of May as well as 420 workers in the manufacturing industry.

As many as 310 people in the arts and entertainment industry in Worcester were still claiming furlough and 280 people in administration roles were also furloughed.

Figures show 240 people in professional, scientific and technical roles were also on furlough at the end of May as well as 120 people in construction and 90 people in health and social work.