Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Statistics: 6 May 2021

6th May 2021

Overview
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was announced on 20 March 2020 and has supported employers in paying their employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This is the eleventh release of Official Statistics on the CJRS. This release provides analysis of claims for periods up to 31 March 2021. The data used includes claims submitted to HMRC by 14 April 2021.

The data for March 2021 is not yet fully complete as while claims relating to March 2021 should have been filed by 14 April 2021, employers could file claims later with the agreement of HMRC if they had a reasonable excuse. Claims for March 2021 can also be amended until 28 April 2021. Together, these factors are likely to have a small effect on the statistics.

Based on figures for February, which have been revised since the previous release, it is estimated that the number of employments on furlough reported for March 2021 could increase by around 2%. The March 2021 figures should therefore be considered as provisional and will be revised in a future release.

We will continue to publish statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the CJRS extension in future months. These statistics are Experimental Statistics and are subject to revisions. Further information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the compilation of these statistics and the meaning of the term Experimental Statistics is provided later in this publication.

Main points
The key points from this release covering the period to 31 March 2021 are below. Figures for March 2021 are provisional and subject to revision as additional claims for the period are received.

provisional figures show there has been a decrease in levels of furlough between February and March 2021 with 4.2 million employments on furlough at 31 March 2021
since the start of the scheme a cumulative total of 11.5 million jobs have been supported by the CJRS at various times. This is across all claims submitted to HMRC by 14 April 2021
the levels of furlough seen in these figures reflect the changes to restrictions on individuals, households and businesses across the UK since the autumn
at 28 February, 41% of employers had staff on furlough. Provisional estimates show that this decreased to 39% of employers at 31 March 2021. 16% of employments eligible for furlough were on furlough at 28 February. Provisional estimates show this decreased to 14% at 31 March 2021
provisional figures show that all sectors saw a reduction in levels of furlough between 28 February and 31 March 2021
the accommodation and food services sector had the highest take-up rate at 28 February at 70% of eligible employers putting staff on furlough. Provisional estimates show this decreased to 67% of employers at 31 March 2021. 1.19 million employments were on furlough in this sector on 28 February, with provisional figures showing this decreased to 1.06 million on 31 March 2021
staff on furlough in the wholesale and retail sector peaked on 24 April at 1.85 million employments on furlough. Latest figures show the number of employments on furlough decreased to 826,000 employments on furlough at 31 March 2021 from 933,000 at 28 February
a more detailed breakdown of furlough rates by detailed industry groups shows the beverage serving activities sector had the highest proportion of eligible employments on furlough at 28 February, with a take-up rate of 92%. Provisional figures show this decreased to 78% on 31 March 2021
this was followed by the hotels and similar accommodation sector which had 75% of its eligible employments on furlough at 28 February. Provisional figures for 31 March 2021 show this decreased to 70%
the ten industry groups with the highest take up rates at 31 March 2021 are passenger air transport, hotels and similar accommodation, holiday and short-stay accommodation, beverage serving activities, photographic activities, travel agency and tour operator activities, gambling and betting activities, sports activities, amusement and recreation activities, and other personal service activities
the restaurants and mobile food service activities sector had the highest number of employments on furlough at 28 February with 447,000 employments on furlough. Provisional figures show this sector had 410,000 employments on furlough at 31 March 2021
in the passenger air transport sector, there were 200 employers (62% of employers eligible) with 36,000 employments (57% of eligible employments) on furlough at 28 February. At 31 March 2021, provisional figures show this remained similar with 35,000 employments on furlough
medium and large sized employers have the lowest take up rates. Provisional figures for 31 March 2021 show that employers with 250 or more employees have 8% of eligible employees on furlough in comparison with the average 14%. Employers with 2 to 4 employees had the highest proportion of eligible employees on furlough at 34%
across the UK, where it was possible to link the data, 2.37 million females were on furlough at 28 February compared with 2.17 million males. Provisional estimates show a decrease with 2.12 million females on furlough at 31 March 2021 and 1.95 million males
there was broad consistency in furlough rates across the nations and regions of the UK at the end of February with London having the highest take-up rate of 18% against the UK average of 16%. Provisional estimates show that this was also true at the end of March 2021 with London having the highest take-up rate at 16% against a UK average of 14%
the ten local authorities with the highest take up rates at 31 March 2021 are Eden and South Lakeland in Cumbria, Scarborough, Isle of Wight, Crawley and the London authorities of Brent, Ealing Haringey, Hounslow and Newham
the under 18 age band had the highest take up rate for both female and males at 28 February, 41% and 30% respectively. Provisional estimates for 31 March 2021 show that the under 18 age band continued to have the highest take-up rates at 38% for females and 28% for males. Employees aged 18 to 24 and 65 and over were also more likely than average to be on furlough
1.29 million employments were on partial furlough at 28 February, 27% of the total employments on furlough. Provisional estimates show this figure decreased to 1.22 million employments on partial furlough at 31 March 2021, 29% of the total employments on furlough.

See guidance on applying for support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and further details - Updated 6 May 2021.

CJRS claims for the month of April must be submitted by 14 May 2021