Scores of Hartlepool workers come off furlough

Scores more workers in Hartlepool came off furlough in July – the first month employers had to make a contribution to salaries under the scheme, new figures reveal.
More come off furlough schemeMore come off furlough scheme
More come off furlough scheme

Figures from HM Revenue and Customs show 1,800 jobs held by workers in Hartlepool were furloughed as of July 31 – five per cent of all that were eligible.

That was 200 fewer than the 2,000 furloughed at the end of June – and nearly two thirds down on the 4,900 during the 2021 peak in January.

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People aged under 25 made up the highest proportion of those on furlough with 230 (13%) on the scheme.

In Hartlepool, the manufacturing sector saw the highest number of people coming off furlough - falling by 70.

This was followed by the construction sector which saw 30 people come off the scheme.

July was the first month that employers had to pay 10% of the salaries of their furloughed workers and contributions rose to 20% in August and September, with the scheme due to finish at the end of this month.

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Nationally, there were 1.6 million workers still on furlough at the end of July.

Low pay campaign group, the Resolution Foundation said a slowing down in the number of employees coming off the scheme in July meant there was a risk of a fresh rise in unemployment in the autumn.

Chancellor Rishi Mr Sunak said: "It’s fantastic to see furlough levels at their lowest since the start of the pandemic as the UK gets back to business."