No resulting wave of job cuts after furlough ended

The conclusion of the furlough scheme has not led to a wave of job cuts, data suggests.

The scheme ended on September 30 but the number of planned redundancies reported by employers has neared record lows.

Around one million workers remained on the scheme prior to its conclusion.

The scheme supported the wages of one-third of workers at its height, and is estimated to have cost around £70 billion.

A major concern related to redundancies in the travel sector, however Easyjet, Jet2, Tui, Virgin Atlantic, Hays Travel, Airbus, delivery firm DHL, air traffic controller NATS, baggage handler Swissport, plus Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted airports have all told the BBC that they will not be making further redundancies due to the end of the scheme.

However the end to the £20 Universal Credit uplift amid rising food and energy bills have compounded fears of a cost of living crisis.