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Occupations
By far the largest group of employees in retail are employed as sales assistants and retail cashiers. The table below shows the changing shift of occupations in the retail sector. The dominance of sales assistants and retail cashiers in the sector is clear.
The key future trends in occupations in the retail sector are:
- the dominance of sales assistants and retail cashiers will continue, and increase
- the proportion of managers in the retail workforce is forecast to fall
- elementary occupations are projected to experience job losses
Changing composition of employment by occupation in retail, 1982-2012
Source: Working Futures 2004, figure 6.12.4. Based on CE/IER estimates.
Future occupational demand in retail
New entrants into retail will be required because the sector is expanding and creating new jobs, and to replace people leaving the sector due to reasons such as retirement or getting a job in a different sector. Retail has a tradition of very high staff turnover – given the difficulties the sector faces in attracting new entrants, improving retention is a priority.
The total net requirement (i.e. the number of employees needed due to expansion and replacement demand), indicates how employment levels are forecast to change in the future. The occupation that will have by far the largest net requirement is sales which is predominantly from replacement demand. Combined with predicted expansion in the sector, this suggests an even more acute pressure in the labour market.
Source: Harris and Church 2002
United Kingdom retailing employment levels by occupations and replacement demand, 2002-2012
Source: Working Futures 2004, figure 6.14.3. Based on CE/IER estimates.
Last cached: 2008-05-07 04:44 PM