According to a recent report published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), retail employment in the UK has fallen by 2.3% in the three months to the end of June, marking it the fourteenth consecutive quarterly year-on-year decline.
This translates to some 72,000 jobs being lost compared with the same period last year, with online sales reducing the need for shop staff, and more stores investing in self–service checkouts. The number of hours worked in the sector fell by 2.5%. Store growth slowed down to 1.7%, compared to first quarter growth of 2.3%.
“Retail is undergoing a period of profound transformation,” stated BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson. “Such declines are likely to endure, hastened by Government policies that continue to add costs to an industry already under immense pressures. With a new Prime Minister and cabinet in place, there is a clear opportunity to rethink the high street strategy.”
Currently, online represents 18% of retail sales, but the findings revealed in a new report, The Digital Tipping Point, predict that over the next 10 years, online shopping will account for over 50% of retail sales.
Top: Some 72,000 jobs have been lost in the retail industry over the past three months.
