UK jobcentre claimants rise 126% to 2.8m since start of the lockdown

Analysts say year-on-year increase is most dramatic hit to UK labour market for 100 years

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The number of people out of work and claiming work-related benefits in the UK jumped 23% to 2.8 million last month as the coronavirus crisis forced thousands of businesses to close.

Highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the workforce, the latest figures for May found that the number of jobcentre claimants increased from 1.24 million in March, representing a 126% increase since the beginning of the lockdown.

The coronavirus lockdown has prompted some of the UK's most prominent companies to announce large-scale job losses. The aviation, automotive and retail sectors have been among the worst hit, as businesses adjust to dramatically reduced revenue projections.