More than 300,000 jobs in Wales furloughed since start of coronavirus pandemic
More than 300,000 jobs have been furloughed by employers in Wales since the Job Retention Scheme was launched by the UK Government in April.
Across the UK, more than eight and a half million jobs have been furloughed, meaning the UK Treasury is paying 80% of an employee's wages up to £2,500 per month.
Alongside help for the self-employed, it means the incomes of 418,000 people in Wales are being supported by the UK Government.
The Job Retention scheme was designed to reduce the number of employees that may have been made redundant during the coronavirus lockdown, and protect businesses from becoming financially insolvent.
In the city of Cardiff alone, 36,000 people have been furloughed since April, while 23,000 people in Swansea have benefitted from the scheme.
The total number of furloughed jobs in Wales at the end of May stands at 316,500.
The Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “The UK Government said it would do whatever it took to support the people and businesses of Wales through the pandemic and we have produced an unprecedented package of measures to deliver on that promise.
"People and businesses in Wales have also benefited from UK-wide schemes such as VAT deferral, company loans and Universal Credit, while the Welsh Government has been allocated an additional £2.2 billion in direct coronavirus funding.
“The UK Government has provided certainty for employers and workers to ensure that Wales’s economy is ready to bounce back from the pandemic.”
Across the UK, nearly 9 million jobs have been furloughed, costing the tax payer nearly £20 billion.
The scheme also provides support for self-employed people in Wales.
102,000 self employed people have claimed income support from the scheme - 73% of those eligible.
A total of £273m has been given to self-employed people in Wales up to the end of May.
Across the UK, the sector most affected by the scheme has been wholesale and retail industries, covering 1.6 million jobs, followed by accommodation and food service employers furloughing 1.4 million.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to, protect jobs and businesses in Wales 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 and possible.”
The CJRS 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 reopens.
The SEISS scheme has also been extended with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6570.
The UK Government says the two schemes are part of an economic support package for individuals and businesses including loans, grants, income tax deferrals, rental support, increased levels of Universal Credit, and mortgage holidays.