A report which will be heard by councillors next week has laid out the stark reality of the impact coronavirus is having on people in the county.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a sharp 146 per cent rise in the number of people unemployed in the county from 830 in March to 2,045 in August, with the council expecting more people to lose their jobs when the furlough scheme ends later this month.

In contrast, there has been an 11.8 per cent rise in the average house price in the county.

The average house price in August was £207,260 compared to £187,870 before the pandemic.

The rise is the biggest in Wales and demand in properties in the county is continuing to rise according to the report, which will go before Ceredigion County Council’s Thriving Communities Overview Scrutiny Committee on Thursday.

The report also says that 12 per cent of households in Ceredigion have no internet access at all and the report says there is a need for effective and robust digital connectivity as work patterns change due to Covid-19.

Younger workers in the county have been hit the hardest by job cuts according to the figures with the number of 18 to 24-year-olds out of work rising from 185 in March to 490 in August.

This, coupled with rising house prices and lack of jobs on the market, has led the report to state that a key economic concern for Ceredigion is that Covid-19 will exacerbate a pattern of outward migration of young people from rural areas of the county with a subsequent impact on growth, culture and the Welsh language.

The report add that “Significant unemployment expected as the UK Government furlough scheme ends, coupled with a possible harsh economic environment throughout the winter.”

The full impacts are still emerging, as governments at all levels are having to continue to introduce measures to protect the population from the virus.

The report summarises the current known impact on the Ceredigion economy, outlines the support measures that have been introduced in Ceredigion, and sets out the measures currently being planned and implemented to address the challenges being faced by the economy.

Ceredigion County Council says it will need to fully consider how it can use its resources and assets, alongside its stakeholders to support businesses and individuals to adjust.

A council spokesperson added: “The challenges facing the economy of Ceredigion are therefore significant, and co-ordinated efforts will be required.

“This includes working with partners in governments at all levels to enable the economy to adjust and recover by building on new opportunities that enable the aspirations of the people of Ceredigion to be met.”

The Impact of Coronavirus on the Economy of Ceredigion report will go before the Thriving Communities Scrutiny Committee on 22 October.