819,000 fewer workers on UK company payrolls in November than at the start of the pandemic

Official figures have shown that there were 819,000 fewer workers on UK company payrolls in November than at the start of the pandemic back in March. According to the figures released by the Office for National Statistics, hospitality was the worst hit sector which accounted for a third of the job losses. 

The rate of unemployment rose to 4.9% in the three months up to October, with 1.7 million people now out of work. Significant job losses have occurred in other sectors such as aviation and manufacturing, however hospitality has been by far the most affected by coronavirus restrictions this year. Bars and restaurants, like all businesses had to close for months during the first lockdown and have faced strict compliance rules and further shutdowns ever since then.

The ONS’s director of economic statistics, Darren Morgan has said: “If you look at the number of people losing their jobs, the number of people on furlough and the vacancies available for people looking for jobs in the hospitality sector, all that adds up to a very difficult time for that industry”. 

Kate Nicholls of the industry body, UK Hospitality, has called the move to place London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire into tier 3 “illogical”. She also said: “The spread is being predominantly driven through schools… yet, once again, it is hospitality that will take the hit. So many pubs, restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels, having invested so much to make their venues safe, are only just clinging on by the skin of their teeth”.

[give_form id=”1772″ show_title=”false” show_goal=”false” show_content=”below” display_style=”modal”]