On 28 January 2021, the government published updated official statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The statistics, which were based on data collected up until 14 January 2021 and were published alongside analysis of claims for periods up to 31 December 2020.

The data revealed that the number of furloughed employees increased by 1.3 million at the start of November 2020 to a peak of 4.1 million, falling slightly to 3.8 by the end of December 2020. Both the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Resolution Foundation have urged the Government to consider a careful transition out of the scheme to avoid a spike in unemployment in spring - which is estimated to reach record levels. 

According to the data, furlough rates across the UK were broadly consistent, with London's rate reaching 15% at the end of November 2020, only 2% above the UK's 13% average. Out of all workers furloughed by then, 859,600 were aged 25-34, the most furloughed age group, falling to 840,100 by 31 December 2020. The accommodation and food services sector had the highest number of furloughed workers throughout the UK, followed by the wholesale and retail sector.

With Lockdown 3.0 arriving in January 2021 - after the period for which this data was collected - we might expect that the number of furloughed employees rose yet further.   In the coming weeks, we can expect to hear as part of the Government's plans to release the country out of lockdown whether the CJRS will be extended (again),  or whether the previously announced but then scrapped Job Support Scheme will be re-introduced, or whether there will be a new proposal to support the integration of employees back in to the workplace.  The fear of many, of course, is that if the CJRS simply ends without some new arrangement in place,  record levels of unemployment is sure to be a sad reality.