Coronavirus: 612,000 UK workers lose their jobs during lockdown

Early estimates suggest 163,000 people lost their jobs in May, on top of 449,000 the previous month, as the coronavirus crisis lockdown took its toll on the UK economy. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data covering the number of paid employees showed a fall of 2% since the country entered effective hibernation in March. It released the experimental data as its own figures showed a leap in the so-called claimant count - jobless claims applications through Universal Credit.