Unemployment in the UK has risen by nearly 700,000 since lockdown began, according to the latest figures.
The number of workers on payrolls fell by 695,000 between March and August due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Office for National Statistics said.
It said its latest official figures mean that the rate of unemployment increased to 4.1% – which is in line with expert predictions. The organisation added that employment now stands at 76.5% for those aged 16 to 64, with economic inactivity at 20.2% for those in the same age bracket.
ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said: ‘Some effects of the pandemic on the labour market were beginning to unwind in July as parts of the economy reopened. Fewer workers were away on furlough and average hours rose.’
36,000 came off the payroll in August, but Mr Morgan added: ‘The number of job vacancies continued to recover into August, too.
‘Nonetheless, with the number of employees on the payroll down again in August and both unemployment and redundancies sharply up in July, it is clear that coronavirus is still having a big impact on the world of work.’
The latest figures follow a spate of job losses announced by companies in sectors badly hit by Covid-19 and amid fears that this winter could see mass unemployment with the winding down of the Furlough scheme and more economic uncertainty.
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