More than one-third of Northamptonshire's workers have been forced to stop work by Covid-19 crisis

Official figures reveal that more than one-third of Northamptonshire's workforce has been forced to stop work during the Covid-19 crisis.

Data released by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs today (Thursday, June 11) puts the number of jobs furloughed in the county and self-employed workers being paid grants by the Government at 125,000.

Businesses have put close on 96,000 jobs on furlough in Northamptonshire since the pandemic hit the county in March while around 29,000 self-employed have claimed close on £91million in funding after being forced to down tools.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak launched the Coronavirus Job Retention and Self-Employment Income Support schemes back in March.

He said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in Northamptonshire 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 as possible.”

Northamptonshire has a working population of approximately 340,000.

The county's businesses furloughed 95,900 jobs up to 31 May 2020 following the launch of the CJRS on 20 April 2020 allowing employers severely affected by coronavirus to claim back up to 80 per cent of employees' wages.

An announcement was made on 12 May, that the scheme will run until the end of October to continue the support for jobs and businesses as people return to work.

Another 29,100 claims were made under the SEISS, which was rolled out ahead of schedule in May to support self-employed individuals and paid grants worth a total of £91million up to May 31, 2020.

The Chancellor announced an extension to this scheme last month allowing those eligible to claim a second grant in August of up to £6,750.