What is the outlook for jobs in the UK?

As Airbus, easyJet, Upper Crust and others announce redundancies, what do we know about how high unemployment could go? Ben Chapman reports

Retail, hospitality and the performing arts are among the sectors laying off staff (Getty)

In the space of less than 24 hours, Airbus announced 15,000 job cuts, easyJet said it planned to close three UK bases, and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary – in typically combative fashion – told staff they had to take a pay cut or 3,500 of them would be out of work.

When you add to that sorry total a further 5,000 workers who face losing their jobs at Upper Crust, it has been a bad week for jobs, particularly those in the travel industry.

Problems are not limited to one sector. Shirt retailer T M Lewin said it will close all of its shops, making 600 of its 700 staff redundant.