Unemployment jumps 649,000 since lockdown with 74,000 extra jobs claimed by coronavirus last month

THE number of unemployed Brits has jumped by 649,000 since lockdown with 74,000 extra jobs claimed by the coronavirus crisis last month.

This is according to the latest employment figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this morning.

Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician at ONS, said: “As the pandemic took hold, the labour market weakened markedly, but that rate of decline slowed into June, though this is before recent reports of job losses.

“There are now almost two-thirds of a million fewer employees on the payroll than before the lockdown, according to the latest tax data.

“The Labour Force Survey is showing only a small fall in employment, but shows a large number of people who report working no hours and getting no pay.”

He added: “There are now far more out-of-work people who are not looking for a job than before the pandemic.”

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