Six million rural jobs under threat in England when furlough scheme ends

Wales Online reports on claims that workers in rural areas are more at risk of losing their jobs because of the threat posed by the pandemic, as almost six million people in England's counties are working in ‘at risk’ jobs, with 46 percent of the country's entire furloughed workforce residing in county areas, according to a study

The County Councils Network (CCN), which acts for 39 of the biggest English authorities, is calling on the Government to provide councils with devolved powers to protect employment when the furlough scheme ends in October.

Based on the latest statistics to the end of June, Cornwall has the highest proportion of its workforce on furlough (35.1 percent), with Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Cumbria, Dorset and Devon all also having close to one-third of their workforce on the Government's scheme.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Post writes that the move towards working from home could give a boost to the local economies of small towns and rural areas, as employers become more flexible and workers shun the office on a permanent basis. While this could elevate towns and villages, it may also see companies from the South East considering recruiting people in rural areas up and down the country to work remotely.

Full articles:

Wales Online - Six million rural jobs under threat in England when furlough scheme ends

The Yorkshire Post - Homeworking could give a boost to Yorkshire's economy, especially in rural areas