Retail staff hit worst by virus layoffs

UNEMPLOYMENT soared during 2020 as some of Britain’s leading businesses were forced to lay off hundreds of thousands of staff, according to a survey.

Some of the biggest casualties are in retail, hospitality and travel.

The study tracked nearly 280,000 announced redundancies or jobs that were put at risk since March 23, when the first lockdown started.

Some of the cuts, including 5,500 at Cineworld, are likely to be temporary but the figures hide a large number of permanent losses, many among smaller companies.

The Office for National Statistics said this month that employees on payrolls had fallen in number by 819,000, most at the beginning of the pandemic.

June was the worst month as nearly 75,000 redundancies or possible job losses were announced. However, this included HSBC and BP, which respectively planned 35,000 and 10,000 possible redundancies globally.

The fewest losses announced in a full month were in April. More than 85,000 potential redundancies are in retail – the hardest hit. Hospitality and travel companies announced more than 42,000 losses, according to the Press Association study.

The Bank of England said in November that it expected unemployment to reach 7.75 per cent next year, far ahead of the current 4.9 per cent.

The Government furlough plan, extended until April, has paid £ 46billion to cover up to 80 per cent of the salaries of 9.9 million people. But between August and October redundancies reached a record 370,000.

A Government spokeswoman said: “We have put in place one of the world’s most comprehensive economic responses, spending over £ 280billion to protect jobs, incomes and business. Our Plan for Jobs continues to support people of all ages to get back on the jobs ladder, levelling up as we build back better.

“We’re doubling the number of work coaches ensuring those in need have access to bespoke support.”

‘ We have one of the world’s most comprehensive responses’