Almost 11 million people were furloughed over the lifetime of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

New HMRC statistics also show that almost 3 million individuals received a grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Almost 11 million people were furloughed over the lifetime of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, according to new HMRC statistics.

In Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: 16 December 2021 - the final release of statistics relating to the scheme - HMRC provides an overview of the CJRS since its introduction at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic up to its closure on 30 September 2021.

NB - HMRC comments that, as the deadline for amending claims for September 2021 was 28 October 2021, the data is considered complete although in a small range of specific circumstances, late claims and amendments can be made with a reasonable excuse and in agreement with HMRC.

Key findings include that, over the lifetime of the scheme - 

• 10.8 million individuals were placed on furlough; and
• 11.7 million jobs were supported from 1.3 million employers.

In addition, when the scheme ended - 

• 1.16 million jobs were on furlough, compared to 8.9 million at the peak on 8 May 2020; and
• 21 per cent of eligible employers had staff on furlough, compared to 61 per cent between March and June 2020.

Also published today, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme statistics: December 2021 provides information in respect of all five grants for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and reports that - 

• 2.9 million individuals received a grant; and
• 10.4 million grants were claimed with a total value of £28.1 billion.

NB - HMRC highlights that the SEISS release is classified as experimental statistics which are still in their development phase and subject to revision.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: 16 December 2021 and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme statistics: December 2021 are available from gov.uk