The number accounts for 59% of eligible staff with 75% of eligible firms using the coronavirus job retention scheme at some point in the last five months.

New figures from HM Revenue and Customs reveal that £2.6bn was paid out to 171,400 firms making claims for support for staff.

From now on the number of staff on furlough is expected to diminish sharply as contractors bring staff back into work or opt for redundancies to slim down for predicted lower levels of activity.

The level of support for the self-employed was even greater.

New June figures from the self-employment income support scheme reveal 867,000 construction workers received pay-outs, representing an 81% take-up rate.

Pay-outs to the self-employed total just over £3bn with the average claim at £3,500.

This takes total Government support for the construction workforce so far to over £5.6bn.

For business claims for furloughed staff alone, construction ranked fourth behind retail (£5.2bn), hospitality and food (£4.1bn) and manufacturing (£3.3bn).

Across the UK, Scotland had the highest percentage take-up for support among staff, while in England the greatest proportion of take-up was in the south west with 62% of total eligible staff placed on the coronavirus job protection scheme.