One quarter of workers in Wakefield have been furloughed, figures show
Around one in four workers in the Wakefield district are currently furloughed, it has been revealed.
In figures released today, HM Revenue and Customs said that businesses in Wakefield had furloughed a total of 40,100 jobs in the period up to May 31, or around a quarter of the district's workforce.
The government's furlough scheme, launched in March, is designed to allow staff to be temporarily placed on paid leave during the coronavirus crisis. Those on furlough leave will receive 80 per cent of their wages, paid by the government.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in the North West and across the UK during the crisis.
"Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift as possible.”
A further 10,300 self-employed people in the district are receiving financial support from the government under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
HMRC said that grants worth a total of £29.3 million had been paid to self-employed workers in the district since the start of the crisis.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that around one quarter of workers in the UK are now furloughed, with more than £17.5 billion in aid claimed by UK businesses.
But concerns have been raised that unemployment levels will rise sharply when the scheme comes to an end in October.