Official figures indicate that the number of workers on UK payrolls has fallen by 649,000 between March and June.

The total was not as big as many feared, because large numbers of firms have put employees on the government-backed furlough scheme.

Economists say the full effect on employment will not be felt until the scheme ends in October.

Analysts say the number of hours worked per week is currently a truer reflection of the impact of the coronavirus crisis because of the effect of the furlough scheme on the employment market.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that since the start of the pandemic, total weekly hours worked in the UK had fallen by a record 175.3 million, or 16.7%, to 877.1 million hours.

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