More than 1,000 employers in job retention scheme

Some 4,698 employees were or had been part of the corona job retention scheme, also known as rescue package 1, at the latest count on 13 May.

A total of 1,003 employees have signed up to the scheme, according to figures from the ALS employment service.

These numbers have now gone down significantly as people have either returned to work or been made redundant.

There are currently 2,123 people registered in the scheme, which is due to expire on 30 June.

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Forty industry branches are represented in the scheme, according to tax authority TAKS’s business register.

The retail industry, excluding car dealerships and car repair workshops, had the highest number of furloughed staff at 512.

Next on this list is hotels and restaurants, with 481.

Youth unemployment

These figures are part of a reply from trade minister Helgi Abrahamsen to an enquiry about youth unemployment during the lockdown.

On 12 May, 663 job retention scheme claimants were in the 16-25 age group, which is the group referred to in relation to youth unemployment. This means that 24 percent of the 2,123 total on 12 May are in this age group.

But the trade minister adds that the true youth unemployment figure will not be known until the job retention scheme expires on 30 June.

Translated by prosa.fo