[Northern Ireland] Furlough figures hit 106,200 by end of January

In Northern Ireland, the number of people on furlough increased by almost 27,000 between the end of November and the end of January, BBC News reports.

The increase reflected the impact of new lockdown restrictions which have seen non-essential retail remain closed since 26 December. (Link via original reporting)

79,300 workers were furloughed at the end of November, that figure rose to 96,500 at the end of December and reached 106,200 at the end of January. Meaning that currently about 14 per cent of jobs are furloughed.

Under the furlough scheme, the government pays the wages of people who can not work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme pays employees placed on leave up to 80 per cent of their salary (to a maximum of £2,500 a month).

HMRC figures show that 4.7 million people were on furlough at the end of January in the UK as a whole. Well below the peak of almost nine million during the first lockdown in April 2020.

Hospitality jobs -  at 1.15 million - reportedly account for about a quarter of the current total.

The latest figures for the self-employed support scheme shows that 62,000 people in Northern Ireland received a grant.

This incarnation of the scheme covers the period from November to January and covers 80 per cent of profits for November, December and January (up to a total limit of £7,500) paid in a single instalment.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined details of a fresh payment to the self-employed in the Budget. It will cover the three-month period from the start of February until the end of April.

In Northern Ireland, the number of people on furlough increased by almost 27,000 between the end of November and the end of January, BBC News reports.

The increase reflected the impact of new lockdown restrictions which have seen non-essential retail remain closed since 26 December. (Link via original reporting)

79,300 workers were furloughed at the end of November, that figure rose to 96,500 at the end of December and reached 106,200 at the end of January. Meaning that currently about 14 per cent of jobs are furloughed.

Under the furlough scheme, the government pays the wages of people who can not work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme pays employees placed on leave up to 80 per cent of their salary (to a maximum of £2,500 a month).

HMRC figures show that 4.7 million people were on furlough at the end of January in the UK as a whole. Well below the peak of almost nine million during the first lockdown in April 2020.

Hospitality jobs -  at 1.15 million - reportedly account for about a quarter of the current total.

The latest figures for the self-employed support scheme shows that 62,000 people in Northern Ireland received a grant.

This incarnation of the scheme covers the period from November to January and covers 80 per cent of profits for November, December and January (up to a total limit of £7,500) paid in a single instalment.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined details of a fresh payment to the self-employed in the Budget. It will cover the three-month period from the start of February until the end of April.