A Warwickshire business leader has warned of the 'slight headache' facing employers as unemployment figures drop slightly.

Tom Mongan, president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, has said the end of the furlough scheme could see an uptick in unemployment but that some areas of the economy are desperate to recruit.

Unemployment dropped from 4.8 per cent to 4.7 per cent in the three months up to April as the economy was slowly starting to reopen.

Mr Mongan said: "Of course, we welcome the slight fall in unemployment but there is still a feeling that it is being slightly skewed by furlough and we'll only really know the true hit once that scheme comes to an end.

"That said, I have been visiting businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire over the past couple of weeks and the feedback I am getting from the hospitality sector is that they need to recruit."

The UK Government announced yesterday that the full lifting of restrictions would now be delayed until the end of July. Mr Mongan has said that this is not good news for restaurants and cafés looking to recruit.

"It's a combination of Covid and Brexit that has led to the shortage," he said.

"Some people have found new industries whilst the hospitality sector has been closed down, while many EU workers have returned home.

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"So it's absolutely vital now that this industry is supported in finding and training new staff to help them make the most of the full reopening of the economy when that happens in July."