HUNDREDS more workers in Dorset came off furlough in July – the first month employers had to make a contribution to salaries under the scheme, figures show.

But with 1.6 million UK workers still on furlough at the end of July, think tank the Resolution Foundation expects "a significant number" to lose their jobs when the Government programme ends this month.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the latest figure – a 340,000 reduction from June 30 and the lowest since the start of the pandemic – was a sign of the country getting back to business.

Read more: End of furlough scheme will bring travel sector job losses to 100,000 – survey

HM Revenue and Customs data show 6,600 jobs held by workers living in Dorset were furloughed as of July 31 – 5 per cent of all that were eligible.

That was 1,600 fewer than the 8,200 furloughed at the end of June.

It was also down by three-quarters compared to the 26,900 on the scheme during the 2021 peak in January.

An age breakdown for those on furlough across local authority areas has also been published for the first time.

Read more: Some 1.6 million remained on furlough as scheme wound down

In Dorset, people aged between 55 and 59 made up the highest proportion of those on furlough with 870 (13 per cent) on the scheme.

Meanwhile, people aged between 25 and 29 accounted for the smallest proportion – 460 (7 per cent).

Following the reopening of indoor hospitality in May, the accommodation and food services sector continued to see the highest numbers of UK workers coming off furlough in July.

This was also the case in Dorset, with the number of furloughed hospitality employees falling by 420.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “Throughout the pandemic Dorset Council has worked closely with its partners on the Local Resilience Forum and with the Dorset Local Economic Partnership to save lives and livelihoods.

Read more: Thousands more workers in Dorset came off furlough in June

“At a recent Economic Recovery Group meeting, it was noted that while at the beginning of the pandemic our biggest concern was the risk of high unemployment as we came out of lockdowns, Dorset is currently experiencing a record number of job vacancies, and there have been very few redundancies.

“It is not known how many people will return to their jobs at the end of furlough or whether there will be a significant increase in redundancies.

“We will continue to work with partner organisations to help people into work, and to gain the skills needed for the jobs that are in demand today and in the future.”