Furlough to end in April

[LemonSherbetFancies]

Because of a 91% increase in job postings, this was stated in the 'Express 'paper.
Anyone else surprised by this? Not that furlough will end but that all these jobs have suddenly appeared?

I think a lot of jobs have shifted across sectors - shops and restaurants may be closed so no work for shop floor staff or waiters; but retailers are experiencing increased online demand so are in need of pickers and packers, delivery companies also experiencing increased demand as a result, takeaway food orders are booming.

At the more skilled end, all of this drives new digital markets - fintech models, new algorithms for choice architecture etc. Click and collect doesn’t just happen seamlessly on its own and it didn’t invent itself.

I don’t think the job market is as dead as people might assume, although I’ll be surprised if furlough fully just stops dead in April.

Yes doesn’t surprise me. Both mine and DHs companies furloughed people in lockdown one, now both busily recruiting. This has been going on long enough that good, viable companies have adapted. The furlough scheme can’t keep propping up every company.

What about those working in industries that have been ordered to close like hospitality? Does that mean pubs/restaurants will have to open again by then, or those people will be made to look for other jobs meaning that they won't be able to reopen at all if there are no staff?

If there are alternative jobs available which require similar skill sets then I don’t think that after, in some cases, a year of furlough it’s unreasonable to expect people who used to be bar tenders or waiting staff or hotel cleaners or clothes shop staff to take jobs in alternative sectors. The retail and hospitality sector isn’t going to open with a bang, it will be slow and gradual as it was last summer with many places reopening with fewer staff and some places not reopening at all initially.

@ComtesseDeSpair

If there are alternative jobs available which require similar skill sets then I don’t think that after, in some cases, a year of furlough it’s unreasonable to expect people who used to be bar tenders or waiting staff or hotel cleaners or clothes shop staff to take jobs in alternative sectors. The retail and hospitality sector isn’t going to open with a bang, it will be slow and gradual as it was last summer with many places reopening with fewer staff and some places not reopening at all initially.

Yes that makes sense. I think a lot of people might still be reluctant to go out for meals or the pub so places might not need lots of staff initially anyway.

I'm amazed it's lasted this long. Ending furlough doesn't necessarily mean there won't be other forms of support - furlough was only ever meant to be a time limited thing.

I think if I had been furloughed this long, I'd be looking for other jobs anyway?

Will Saint Boris's resignation be just before furlough ends, so that he doesn't have his name clouded with the millions unemployed which will then follow?

The job market is looking pretty healthy unless you're in retail, travel or hospitality or suppliers to them.
Increase in online shopping has created new jobs as has increases in interest in cooking and crafting etc.
More businesses are happy & geared up for WFH starters too.
Tech is booming, as is pharma.
It's far from bleak but people need to be open minded i guess.
I can't see high st big retail recovering outside of FMCG and maybe luxury
Furlough is bandaging a leg that's dropping off in some cases. Very sad.

@Nohomemadecandles

The job market is looking pretty healthy unless you're in retail, travel or hospitality or suppliers to them. Increase in online shopping has created new jobs as has increases in interest in cooking and crafting etc. More businesses are happy & geared up for WFH starters too. Tech is booming, as is pharma. It's far from bleak but people need to be open minded i guess. I can't see high st big retail recovering outside of FMCG and maybe luxury Furlough is bandaging a leg that's dropping off in some cases. Very sad.

Online retail is booming. We supply to retailers and we have never been so busy.

@bathsh3ba

I'm amazed it's lasted this long. Ending furlough doesn't necessarily mean there won't be other forms of support - furlough was only ever meant to be a time limited thing.

I think if I had been furloughed this long, I'd be looking for other jobs anyway?

That's a good point, surely anyone on furlough this long should be looking for other jobs! Same as the self employed who haven't had work. There's lots of jobs going in other sectors.

DH works for a freight company. In March they furloughed lots of staff. This time around, they have furloughed nobody & are recruiting. Partly as they have had to set up a whole new department to deal with Brexit/customs.

My worry is how regional this kind of thing might be. For example, if furlough just stops before places are open again, won’t locations with a high proportion employed in hospitality (such as Devon, Cornwall) be totally screwed?

I don't think they will cut off all support if sectors aren't allowed to open. I would assume either they are allowed to open before it ends, or it ends and a targeted scheme for the closed sectors will replace it. The current furlough scheme which is for all businesses will end.

@Waxonwaxoff0 Fab!

It's going to force retail store staff into back office & warehouse/logistics type MW roles instead. That'll be a painful process initially. I guess things evolve. But I can see a lot of hope.