Quarter of a million retail jobs lost in five years, ONS finds
The four-quarter average revealed that there were only 2.84 million retail jobs available, showing that there are 70,000 fewer than at the same point last year
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There are now 249,000 fewer retail jobs than there were five years ago, according to the latest data from the ONS.
While there were 2.88 million jobs in retail in December 2024, that was only because it is traditionally the high point of the year for the sector due to Christmas trading.
However, the four-quarter average revealed that there were only 2.84 million retail jobs available, showing that there are 70,000 fewer than at the same point last year.
On a four-quarter average, there were 1.5 million part-time and 1.34 million full-time jobs, showing that full-time roles fell by 106,000 in five years and the number of part-time jobs by a further 142,000 in the same period.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “The number of retail jobs in 2024 was the lowest since the data began in 1996, despite total jobs in the economy continuing to rise. While this decline in retail jobs should be a concern to communities everywhere, worse could be yet to come.
“Last October’s Budget forced retailer wage bills up by over £5bn, and both the rise in employer NICs and increased National Living Wage have made hiring significantly more costly. A recent survey of retail Finance Directors showed that half were planning hiring freezes or cutting jobs, both in head offices and stores across the UK.”
She added: “Job cuts are likely to fall disproportionately on part-time roles. This matters: flexible retail roles are an important stepping stone for many people, whether it’s a first job out of school or a part-time role for those returning to the workforce or with caring responsibilities. As the Government’s welfare reforms aim to increase the numbers in work, flexible retail roles offer a first rung back onto the career ladder.”
Dickinson warned that the introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy and the Employment Rights Bill could create barriers to offering flexible part-time roles and retraining opportunities, which would negatively impact both the retail sector – as the largest private sector employer – and the millions of people who “rely on flexible, local jobs”.
