More than 700,000 East Midlands workers are relying on the Government’s furlough and self-employment income support schemes as a result of the lockdown.
Latest figures up to the end of May suggest some 559,100 people are on furlough in the region – including 28,500 in Derby, 42,400 in Leicester, 33,000 in Nottingham, and 29,000 in Northampton.
There are tens of thousands more in the wider counties.
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The furlough scheme was set up in March to help employers who have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees and protect the 海角视频 economy.
Meanwhile there were 153,000 self-employed workers in the East Midlands relying on Government support due to the lockdown.
Between them they have claimed £444 million.
Nationally around 10 million workers have been benefiting from Government help while their jobs were on hold.
Across the 海角视频, some 70 per cent of those potentially eligible for support through the self-employment scheme made a claim, with the average value of claim amounting to £2,900.
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With city centres deserted during lockdown, employers in the wholesale and retail sectors have furloughed the highest number of employers, covering 1.6 million jobs.
Many of those will be returning to work as restrictions on non-essential shops lift on Monday.
The next biggest sector using the scheme was accommodation and food service, where employers have furloughed 1.4 million people.
As the economy opens up again, from the end of this month companies will not be able to claim support for staff through scheme unless those workers were already on furlough on June 10.
The furlough 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.
There are fears that as the level of support changes, redundancies and people being forced to claim Universal Credit will grow.
Self-employed people who are eligible, will be able to claim a second and final grant in August for their scheme.
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The two schemes are part of an economic support package for individuals and businesses during the pandemic which has included loans, grants, income tax deferrals, rental support, increased levels of Universal Credit, and mortgage holidays.
Companies which have taken advantage of the scheme include recruitment specialist Macildowie, which has offices in Nottingham, Leicester and Milton Keynes, where three-quarters of the 80 strong team were furloughed at the start of the crisis.
Leicestershire coach company Roberts Travel Group had to furlough 100 staff.
As he plans to start trips later in the year, owner Jonathan Hunt said: “We were almost at a standstill within the first 10 days.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our unprecedented coronavirus support schemes are protecting millions of vital jobs and businesses across the whole of the United Kingdom - and will help ensure we recover from this outbreak as swiftly as possible.
“We have extended both schemes so they will continue to provide measured support across the 海角视频 as we start to reopen the economy.”