AQW 19041/17-22 Written question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the breakdown, by sector, of those workers currently on furlough.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 18 May 2021
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 18 May 2021
- Answer due by
- 3 June 2021
- Answered
- 25 May 20217 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The latest HMRC information on the furlough scheme shows there were approximately 99,400 employments furloughed in Northern Ireland on 31 March 2021. Of those on furlough locally, almost a third (31%) were partially furloughed.
The number of employments on furlough in Northern Ireland is broken down by sector in the table below.
| Sector | Employments on Furlough in NI on 31 March 2021 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Mining and quarrying, Energy production and supply & Water supply, sewerage and waste | 910 |
| Manufacturing | 9,560 |
| Construction | 5,590 |
| Wholesale and retail; repair of motor vehicles | 24,760 |
| Transportation and storage | 3,080 |
| Accommodation and food services | 23,290 |
| Information and communication, Financial and insurance & Real estate | 3,850 |
| Professional and scientific and technical | 4,300 |
| Administrative and support services | 4,990 |
| Education | 1,470 |
| Health and Social Work | 4,150 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 6,150 |
| Other service activities | 5,060 |
| Public administration and defence; social security, Households & Other | 2,290 |
| Total | 99,400 |
The two sectors with the highest number of people on furlough are Wholesale & Retail and Accommodation & Food Services. It is important to note that these figures relate to March and with the easing of restrictions since then, particularly the reopening of non-essential retail, hospitality and accommodation, I would expect to see further reductions in the number of workers on furlough over the coming months.
However, I am pleased the furlough scheme is being made available for businesses until the end of September. That will provide a basis for economic recovery to gain momentum, supported by my Department’s Economic Recovery Action Plan. Building that momentum will be key to delivering my longer term vision for the NI economy as set out in 10X Economy – an economic vision for a decade of innovation.