Unemployment benefit claimants increase fivefold during Covid-19

Analysis comes as some new vacancies in UK are receiving hundreds of applicants each

• Recruiters inundated as virus takes toll on UK labour market

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits per job vacancy in Britain has increased fivefold since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to an employment thinktank.

The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) said approximately eight people are claiming benefits support for every job opening, up from 1.5 people per job before the crisis began in March.