For every two people in the North East claiming unemployment benefit last year, there are now three.
The number of North East claimants is up from 76,225 in February 2020, before the first lockdown, to 120,395 at the end of February this year.
Normally, that would be shocking. After everything we’ve been through in the past 12 months, with so many businesses forced to close, it may not sound too shocking.
But it’s only part of the story. There are still 150,000 people on furlough in the North East. A lot of those people will go back to work, but others will find that their employer doesn’t want them back.
Lockdown coming to an end, assuming all goes to plan, will be a time of great joy for many of people. They’ll be able to see friends and family members for the first time in months, enjoying a visit to a pub and get back to the gym.
And the economy should pick up too. Restaurants will re-open, keep waiters, waitresses and chefs busy, while non-essential shops will welcome customers for the first time since Christmas.
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