The latest ONS report shows a notable decline in retail employment, with 2.76 million jobs reported in March 2025, down 93,000 from last year and 364,000 since 2015. Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson, emphasizes the severe reduction, highlighting job losses greater than those in fishing, car manufacturing, and steel-making combined. With rising employment costs impacting both full-time and part-time roles, the BRC warns that 160,000 additional roles could be in jeopardy without government intervention to protect these vital jobs that support local economies across the UK.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, said, "Retail jobs have continued to fall, with 364,000 fewer jobs than ten years ago... This wave of retail jobs losses appears to go unnoticed by government."
Dickinson remarked that the cost of employing people for full-time entry-level roles has risen by 10%, while the cost for part-time roles has increased by a massive 13%.
"When we take retail jobs away, we do a disservice to the local communities that rely on them. Retail has flexible and local roles for everyone."
The BRC has estimated that over the next three years, 160,000 more roles could be at risk due to rising costs and a lack of government attention.
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