Almost a third of UK firms plan to lay off staff over the next three months in a further sign of the coronavirus pandemic's devastating impact on Britain's job market.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BBC) quarterly recruitment outlook reveals that 29% of 7,400 firms surveyed expect to axe jobs over the third quarter - a record high for the study.
The news comes as the latest unemployment figures show almost 650,000 people have dropped off company payrolls since lockdown began, with job vacancies at their lowest since records began.
Hannah Essex, co-executive director at BCC, said: "Many businesses are suffering from an historic cash crunch and reduced demand, meaning firms will still face tough decisions despite welcome interventions