<p>The UK unemployment rate rose for a six straight month in December as renewed coronavirus restrictions shut down most businesses across the country.</p>.<p>The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday that unemployment rose to 5.1 per cent in December, up 0.1 per cent from the previous month and 1.3 per cent from a year earlier.</p>.<p>The number of people on company payrolls has dropped by 726,000 since the pandemic began last February, with 58.5 per cent of the decline coming among people under 25.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/uks-johnson-announces-staggered-reopening-with-schools-954278.html" target="_blank">UK's Johnson announces staggered reopening with schools</a></strong></p>.<p>The figures don't show the full impact of Covid-19 restrictions on employment because some 1.9 million workers remain on furlough. A government program covers 80% of their wages.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced plans to slowly end a national lockdown in England in hopes of safely reopening the economy and social life as infection rates drop and widespread vaccinations reduce the threat from Covid-19.</p>
<p>The UK unemployment rate rose for a six straight month in December as renewed coronavirus restrictions shut down most businesses across the country.</p>.<p>The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday that unemployment rose to 5.1 per cent in December, up 0.1 per cent from the previous month and 1.3 per cent from a year earlier.</p>.<p>The number of people on company payrolls has dropped by 726,000 since the pandemic began last February, with 58.5 per cent of the decline coming among people under 25.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/uks-johnson-announces-staggered-reopening-with-schools-954278.html" target="_blank">UK's Johnson announces staggered reopening with schools</a></strong></p>.<p>The figures don't show the full impact of Covid-19 restrictions on employment because some 1.9 million workers remain on furlough. A government program covers 80% of their wages.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced plans to slowly end a national lockdown in England in hopes of safely reopening the economy and social life as infection rates drop and widespread vaccinations reduce the threat from Covid-19.</p>