Furlough was an effective bridge, but many have yet to cross the Covid chasm

Analysis: mismatches between high-vacancy sectors and those receiving emergency support belie Sunak's trust in market forces

Over the past 18 months, Rishi Sunak has been in bridge-building mode. Providing billions of pounds in emergency financial support through the furlough scheme to carry businesses and workers over the chasm of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an unprecedented act of state intervention worth 70bn, almost 12 million jobs were protected from the worst economic collapse in 300 years. More than 9bn hours of pay was topped up to 80% of a workers' usual wage, up to 2,500 per month, across every industry from advertising to waste collection.