More than 300,000 workers in Wales have been furloughed since the start of the coronavirus crisis with 100,000 more claiming self employment support.
The UK Government’s package of coronavirus support has protected the incomes of 418,000 people in Wales according to statistics published this morning.
This is from a working population of around 1.46m.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme were announced by the Chancellor at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March as part of a package of measures to support jobs, businesses and individuals hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
Today’s figures show 316,500 jobs in Wales have been furloughed up to the 31 May 2020, across a wide range of sectors including retail, agriculture and construction.
Cardiff has seen 36,000 people furloughed, with 23,000 receiving support through the CJRS in the city of Swansea.
In North Wales Flintshire has seen 18,000 people furloughed – including around 3,200 Airbus workers.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to, protect jobs and businesses in Wales and across the UK during the crisis.
“Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift and possible.”
Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “The UK Government said it would do whatever it took to support the people and businesses of Wales through the pandemic and we have produced an unprecedented package of measures to deliver on that promise.
“So far, more than 316,000 Welsh jobs have been supported by the job retention scheme while £273m has been provided to support 102,000 self-employed people.
“The UK Government has provided certainty for employers and workers to ensure that Wales’s economy is ready to bounce back from the pandemic.”
Clwyd West MP, David Jones, said: “These figures show the extent to which the Government has supported the economy and protected people’s livelihoods at a time of great crisis, not least here in North Wales.”
Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton MP added: “We will make it through this pandemic and we must ensure that the economy is ready to fire on all cylinders, when we’re are allowed out of lockdown and have defeated this virus.”
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament, Paul Davies MS, said: “This virus has attacked us to our very core.
“Only by working together are we getting through this. By supporting businesses, big and small, and the independent plumbers, electricians, builders and many other self-employed people that we can make sure that our economy is ready to fire on all cylinders when we can finally push the gas pedal and ease the lockdown.”
In the UK employers in the wholesale and retail sectors have furloughed the highest number of employers, covering 1.6 million jobs, followed by accommodation and food service employers furloughing 1.4 million.
The CJRS scheme will continue to support jobs until the end of October, with flexible part-time furloughing beginning in July to support businesses as the economy is carefully reopened.
The SEISS scheme has also been extended with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6570.
Breakdown of furlough claims by county in Wales:
| W06000001 | Isle of Anglesey |
6,400 |
| W06000019 | Blaenau Gwent |
6,600 |
| W06000013 | Bridgend |
15,300 |
| W06000018 | Caerphilly |
17,900 |
| W06000015 | Cardiff |
36,000 |
| W06000010 | Carmarthenshire |
18,000 |
| W06000008 | Ceredigion |
6,500 |
| W06000003 | Conwy |
13,200 |
| W06000004 | Denbighshire |
9,800 |
| W06000005 | Flintshire |
18,800 |
| W06000002 | Gwynedd |
13,300 |
| W06000024 | Merthyr Tydfil |
6,000 |
| W06000021 | Monmouthshire |
9,100 |
| W06000012 | Neath Port Talbot |
12,700 |
| W06000022 | Newport |
16,600 |
| W06000009 | Pembrokeshire |
12,900 |
| W06000023 | Powys |
13,100 |
| W06000016 | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
23,400 |
| W06000011 | Swansea |
23,000 |
| W06000020 | Torfaen |
9,900 |
| W06000014 | Vale of Glamorgan |
13,200 |
| W06000006 | Wrexham |
15,100 |