NEW figures showing more adults out of work last year than in 2019, raises concerns about what will keep families afloat now that furlough has ended.

The Office for National Statistics released the new data showing that in 2020, 44,617 households in Bolton had all working age occupants aged 16 or over in employment in 2020, at 52.6% compared to 52.7% the year before.

There were also 15,921 households in Bolton with no adults in work, which at 18.8%, was up from 16.8% in 2019.

While figures were expected to change during the pandemic, there is concern that now furlough has ended and without the £20 Universal Credit, even more people will be left unemployed in Bolton.

The furlough scheme ended on September 30.

The Bolton News:

Councillor Martyn Cox said: “The figures don’t mean unemployment is decreasing really, the problem is people are not applying for jobs.

“I’ve spoken to many businesses who are struggling to get people in.

“Unemployment rates are not what economists were predicting, so there is not a shortage of jobs, but of labour.

“There was the government intervention schemes for businesses, which some people did not like, but there was support and we have got a robust economy.

“Support has been given to businesses and employees who needed it and the recession we were expecting just didn’t happen.”

There were 2.9 million households with nobody working in the UK last year with around 1.3 million children.

In Bolton, there were 9,714 children in households where no adult had a job last year, down from 10,497 in 2019.

Jackie Fish, an ex carer from Bolton, thought unemployment was a crisis.

She said: “They keep closing small shops down I think it’s a shame.

“The rent in Bolton for shops is so expensive as well that businesses cannot afford to open so they can’t create jobs.

“I don’t think the government did do everything they could to help people. There are many out of work now.”

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said the government had done all it could to help families in unemployment.

He said: “The rise in unemployment could have been far worse. But millions of families were protected thanks to government, business and unions working together to put in place furlough and other protections."

While Cllr Cox added: “The is not an unemployment crisis, but people may not want to go back to work for various reasons including, mental health.”