Mr Monks adds: "The more hours workers are now doing, the smaller the rise in business costs associated with keeping them on under the new scheme".

Under the scheme, which will run for six months and help keep employees attached to the workforce, the government will contribute towards the wages of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to decreased demand. Those out of work are facing the toughest jobs market in a generation with LinkedIn data finding that job applications are three times more competitive than previous year.

Furthermore, with the scheme only available to workers who are able to work at least a third of their hours, employees in industries that are now closed or severely hit due to coronavirus restrictions - such as nightclubs - will not receive any help whatsoever.

Chief executive Mike Hawes added: "We must make sure it's more than just a short-term lifeline, however, and, like schemes elsewhere, ensure it supports jobs for the duration of the pandemic and recovery".

Workers will need to work at least one-third of their usual hours in order to qualify for the scheme, while employers will be required to pay staff for all of the time they work.

Dame Carolyn argued that employees put on part-time hours could be usefully retrained and reskilled during the hours in which they were not working.

On Friday, Dame Carolyn fended off criticism of Mr Sunak's package, pointing out that the existing furlough scheme - like the new job support scheme - also contained an employer contribution.

Mr Barclay denied economic experts' warnings that the new jobs protection scheme would not give enough of an incentive to employers to keep workers on, with suggestions it is cheaper to bring back one furloughed employee than two on half-time.

BA's decision to furlough almost 23,000 staff shortly before announcing plans to cut 12,000 jobs angered MPs, despite the airline battling for survival. "To help people develop the skills that are needed for today's in-demand roles, LinkedIn has opened up around 1,000 hours of training which is available to everyone for free".

Britain's government launched scaled-back job support on Thursday for workers hit by the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, but warned not everyone could be helped during an economic meltdown that is threatening millions of jobs.

McClarkin also describes the Government's decision to not extend the business rates relief for pubs as concerning. And we are starting work on a new successor loan guarantee programme set to begin in January. "The new measures may well be delaying the inevitable of mass unemployment, but they will certainly be welcomed by workers and employers alike".

"Businesses will be able to claim via the Gov.uk website from December and claims will be paid out on a monthly basis. As ever, we'll have to see how the scheme pans out and what happens with the economy". "Sources of jobs and growth will evolve and adapt as a result".

The Foundation's report notes, for example, that it would cost a firm £1,500 to employ one full-time worker on £17,000, but more than £2,000 a month to employ two half-time workers on the same full-time equivalent salary.

"But everyone should be clear that, overall, this is a big reduction in government support compared to the measures that have been in place for the past six months".

And the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) also outlined that the measures would give dealers additional time and greater flexibility for their repayments in times when businesses face a number of external challenges.

Paul Johnson, the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, predicted the support was not generous enough. If you click on them we may earn a small commission.

The government will offer similar support for the self-employed.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak should not be able to decide what is a "viable job" and communication has significantly "worsened" in recent weeks, Scotland's Finance Secretary has said. Businesses will now have to bear the brunt of economic turmoil during this hard period as the pandemic continues to hit Britain.