One quarter of West Midlands workers supported by government coronavirus schemes
New figures show how many workers have been furloughed or given self-employment grants in your area.
More than 400,000 West Midlands jobs have been supported by Government schemes since the coronavirus crisis began – around one quarter of the workforce.
Official figures released today show that 413,000 workers in the seven boroughs of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area have received wage support, with 330,400 staff furloughed and 82,600 accessing the self-employed assistance scheme.
The two schemes were announced earlier this year by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to help pay the wages of workers on leave due to Covid-19 lockdown measures.
MPs today said the the schemes have been vital in avoiding mass unemployment, but warned that winding them down without any further support in place could have disastrous consequences.
Figures published by HM Revenue & Customs show 142,800 people have been furloughed through the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme in the Black Country, including 40,100 in Sandwell, 39,800 in Dudley, 33,600 in Walsall and 29,300 in Wolverhampton.
Across the four boroughs a further 35,300 self-employed workers have had their wages supported through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, receiving £221.2 million in payments up to May 31.
It means seven out of every 10 self-employed workers have applied for support since the start of the scheme.
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In Staffordshire, 111,400 workers have been furloughed, including 14,800 in Cannock Chase, 14,700 in Stafford, 13,800 in South Staffordshire and 13,700 in Lichfield.
A total of 28,600 self-employed workers across the county – 72 per cent of those eligible – have received £85.1m in wage support.
Nationally, a total of 8.9 million jobs had been furloughed in the UK by 1.1m employers by June 7, with claims made totalling £19.6 billion.
A further 2.6 million claims have been made for support by self-employed workers.
The furlough scheme – which grants 80 per cent of employees' pay up to a maximum of £2,500 per month – was initially supposed to last for three months, but was extended until October.
However, the support is due to be scaled back, with the amount of furloughed wages paid by the Government reduced each month from August.
'Essential'
Wolverhampton South East MP, Pat McFadden, the Shadow City Minister, said: "The furlough scheme has been hugely important in so far avoiding the kind of mass unemployment that crippled communities in the 1980s.
"It is essential Government does everything it can to avoid that outcome as the furlough scheme is unwound because, as this area knows better than most, the human and social costs of such unemployment would be enormous and would carry on for a very long time.
"Government help for the economy must not end with the unwinding of the furlough scheme.
"There will be a real and urgent need for continues support for the economy and specifically, a package to help employers take on new staff.
"That was done successfully with the Future Jobs Fund during the financial crisis and we will need something even bigger this time."
Stuart Anderson, the Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West, said he had spoken to the Chancellor on the issue of supporting workers once the schemes are wound down.
He said: "The furlough scheme was unprecedented. The Government realised it had to support people in their time of need, no ifs or buts.
"We are now transitioning out of the scheme as it can't stay on forever, but as we do this we need to look at every single sector to see what support they need.
"It is not a case of 'one-size-fits-all', as the leisure industry will need different support to the motor industry, for example.
"We need to kick-start the economy, and to do that we have to support businesses and workers as we come out of lockdown."
Mr Sunak, said: "The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in the West Midlands 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."
From July 1 workers will be able to return to work part-time on 80 per cent pay, although to qualify they will need to have been furloughed for at least three weeks by June 30.
People eligible to claim the self-employment grant will be able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6,750.
