More than 16,000 people across the Harborough district were still furloughed from their jobs last month

Sign of the times...Deserted streets during the start of the third lockdown in Market Harborough. These streets are now reopening as we ease out of lockdown.
PICTURE: ANDREW CARPENTER — Sign of the times...Deserted streets during the start of the third lockdown in Market Harborough. These streets are now reopening as we ease out of lockdown. PICTURE: ANDREW CARPENTER

More than 16,000 people across Harborough were still furloughed from their jobs last month.

Some 16,200 workers living in the district were receiving up to 80 per cent of their wages from the Government as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The number is now believed to have dropped slightly as pubs, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality outlets and venues have been able to reopen outdoors since Monday April 12.

And 1,910 people in Harborough were unemployed and claiming benefits in March – 30 less than in February – the latest Government statistics show.

There were 1,330 more people out of work here last month than in March 2020 – highlighting the dramatic impact of the coronavirus crisis on the local economy.