Number of individuals on furlough reduced by 900,000 in month to 30 April 2021, falling to 3.4 million

New HMRC statistics also show that 2.8 million individuals have received a grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme since its introduction

The number of individuals on furlough reduced by 900,000 in the month to 30 April 2021, falling to 3.4 million, according to new figures from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In the twelfth statistics release on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) issued today, HMRC provides analysis of claims for periods up to 30 April 2021 using data that includes claims submitted by 14 May 2021.

NB - while claims relating to April 2021 should have been filed by 14 May 2021, HMRC advises that the figures are only provisional as claims could be filed later with its agreement, or amended after submission. However, HMRC adds that these factors may lead to only a small increase (of around 3 per cent) on finalised figures for the month.

Comparing provisional figures for April 2021 to the finalised figures for March 2021, HMRC advises that -

• the number of employments on furlough has decreased by 900,000 from 31 March 2021 to 3.4 million employments at 30 April 2021 - reflecting the easing of restrictions on business activity seen throughout the UK in March and April;
• 1.4 million employments under the CJRS (41 per cent of the total) were on partial furlough at 30 April 2021, higher than in March 2021 when 1.3 million people (29 per cent of all furloughed employments) were on partial furlough; and
• at 31 March 2021, 39 per cent of employers had staff on furlough compared to provisional estimates at 30 April 2021 that this has decreased to 35 per cent.

In addition, cumulative figures for the period since the start of the CJRS in March 2020 show that a total of £64 billion had been claimed up to 14 May 2021 in relation to 11.5 million furloughed jobs with 1.3 million employers.

In relation to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, experimental statistics also released today show that 2.8 million individuals have received a grant across the four schemes (up to 9 May 2021) to a total value of £24.5 billion. For the fourth, most recent, grant - which closed to claims on 1 June 2021 - HMRC reports that 1.7 million individuals (50 per cent of the 3.4 million potentially eligible population) have claimed grants with a value of £4.7 billion.

Commenting on the figures, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said -

‘Today’s data is another welcome sign that our Plan for Jobs is working and that the route we have taken is the right one.

These figures show the scheme is naturally winding down as people get back to work and take advantage of the opportunities out there in the jobs market.

We’ll continue to support those who need it through to September but I am hopeful that we’ll see more people moving back in to work as we continue on the road to recovery.’

For more information, see Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme statistics: 3 June 2021 and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme statistics: June 2021 from gov.uk