UK suffers biggest job losses since 2009 as COVID-19 hits

The number of people with work in the UK fell by 220,000 in the three months to June, the most since 2009, as the coronavirus crisis hammered the number of self-employed, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The number of self-employed people fell by a record amount, led by older workers, while the number of employees rose. Job losses are expected to rise as Britain winds down its huge job retention scheme which protects employees. It is due to close at the end of October.

Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said the figures showed the government's support programs were working but job losses were inevitable.