Retail employment rise boosted by increase in full-time roles
The total number of retail jobs rose in the fourth quarter of 2013 boosted by an increase in the number of full-time positions.
Figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Bond Dickinson in their Retail Employment Monitor show that retail employment edged up 0.1% in the quarter compared to the same period a year earlier. Furthermore, the uptake of full-time employees rose at the fastest rate in 18 months to suggest improvements in confidence.
During the quarter, there was also a 2% rise in the number of outlets which was driven entirely by food retailers.
BRC director general Helen Dickinson said: “There were more people working in retail in December than any other month last year. And it is encouraging to see that again there was an increase in people in full time employment, demonstrating that confidence is rising, and an increase in the number of shops.
Never Miss a Retail Update!“Retail offers a great career option with excellent progression and fantastic opportunities. Our survey shows that 42% of temporary contracts over the festive period went to people aged under 21. Many of those will end up being extended into the new year as people start a new and rewarding career in the industry.
“In comparison to the same quarter in December 2012, there was a very small increase in total employment. But that overall figure masks quite large differences between growth in non-food retail employment and a slight falling back in food.”
For the first time since 2008, the Monitor recorded a fall in the number of hours worked within the grocery sector to reveal the impact of a comparably muted Christmas for food retailers on overtime and additional staffing levels.
Christina Tolvas-Vincent, head of retail employment at business law firm Bond Dickinson, said: “The fragile recovery in the wider economy is clearly at play here in the retail sector with the employment figures reflecting the cautiously optimistic Christmas most retailers experienced. There was a rise in the number of full time jobs and redundancies fell, which are important signs of improved confidence, especially as the retail industry often needs to remain flexible to cope with seasonal changes in demand.
“The retail sector is crucial for young people – so it is good to see that nearly half of temporary contracts awarded over the festive period went to those under 21. Temporary roles are in demand in the sector because many people go from shop floor to top floor in retail, starting out in temporary or part-time positions and ending up in senior management or board level positions.”
