The number of transport and logistics workers joining the furlough scheme jumped by 18%, or 28,200 employees, between December and January.

The third national lockdown has meant a steep increase in figures for the transport industry.

At the end of January, there were 187,600 transport and logistics workers furloughed compared to the 159,400 furloughed in December 2020.

The data, analysed by Employment Lawyers at Richard Nelson LLP, found more than one-third (39%) of transport employers used the furlough scheme in January 2021.

Jayne Harrison, head of employment law at Richard Nelson LLP, said: “The transport industry has been advised by the Government to continue operating as normal, with the necessary Covid-secure measures in place.

“For workers who cannot return to their job role or who are not currently needed because of reduced demand, the furlough scheme has kept them employed and meant they are not adding to rising unemployment in the UK.”

The furlough scheme was extended until the end of September in last week’s Budget. 

When comparing the transport sector to other industries, Richard Nelson LLP found the percentage of furloughed employees in the retail and construction industries had increased more than the transport sector this year.

	December 2020	January 2021	Increase
Construction	195,100	244,100	25.12%
Manufacturing	274,500	312,800	13.95%
Wholesale and retail	714,400	938,500	31.37%
Transportation and storage	159,400	187,600	17.69%

Harrison said: “We predict that as lockdown continues to ease, these figures will begin to decline as more workers are needed back in at their posts.”