The UK’s jobless rate rose to 4.5% in the three months to the end of August, compared to 4.1% between May and July, taking unemployment to its highest level in more than three years.

This was despite the government’s original furlough scheme — which protected all jobs by guaranteeing 80% of salaries up to a certain amount a month — being in operation throughout the period, indicating that higher unemployment data is on the horizon.