Retail jobs show biggest drop in two years
A survey by the British Retail Consortium and business law firm Bond Pearce shows that the number of jobs in Britain’s retail sector has suffered its biggest annual fall for two years in the three months to September. Taking just the month of September, there were 23,000 fewer jobs compared with the same month last year.
In the third quarter of 2011, retail employment was down by 0.8% compared with the same quarter a year earlier, the equivalent of 5,780 fewer full-time jobs according to the survey. During the same period the number of retail outlets grew by 2.3%, an additional 1,134 shops.
Stephen Robertson, British Retail Consortium Director General, said:
“With consumer spending now in recession and retail sales volumes declining, this is the biggest drop in overall retail employment in the two years since we began this survey. Redundancy rates are thankfully low but many retailers are not filling every vacancy.
Robertson also pointed out that this may continue into the Christmas season.
“Uncertainty and fears about Christmas trading may also be leading retailers to delay taking on this year’s seasonal staff – with that reluctance compounded by the new Agency Workers rules.
Christina Tolvas-Vincent, Head of Retail Employment at business law firm Bond Pearce, said:
“Retailers are being battered by the same economic conditions that have led to the highest unemployment rate for 17 years. There is no doubt it’s tough out there but retailers are showing their determination to hold on to market share by keeping redundancies low and riding out the storm as best they can.
“Store numbers continue to increase but food retailers are almost entirely responsible for this and curiously the trend for them is towards more full-time job opportunities with part-timers’ hours remaining almost flat. That could make things more difficult for those looking for flexible employment. Seasonal hiring from those parts of retailing that gain significantly from Christmas may provide some respite but this won’t change the underlying weakness in the retail labour market.”
Read more about the BRC-Bond Pearce Retail Employment Monitor Survey
Website: British Retail Consortium
Amanda Frewin
Research & Project Support
