The number of people working in retail has reached record low levels, according to the British Retail Consortium, which warned of “harder” times ahead for job seekers and employers.
Overall, there were 2.82 million jobs in retail in September 2025, 74,000 fewer than the previous year, according to the latest ONS figures when adjusted to the four-quarter average to smooth out seasonal hiring.
It means that 355,000 roles have been lost from the sector since 2015. Part-time roles have been the most affected in that time, with 229,000 fewer currently compared with a decade ago.
The number of full-time roles – of which there are currently 1.3 million – has fallen by 125,000 during the same period as retailers have battled surging inflation, the Covid-19 pandemic and more recently increased employment costs as a result of Labour’s 2024 autumn budget.
“The loss of 74,000 retail jobs represents the loss of 74,000 opportunities for people right across the country,” said BRC CEO Helen Dickinson.
“The number of retail jobs is now at a record low, and more have been lost in the last year than are employed in the fishing and steel manufacturing industries combined.”
Further falls in total employment risked stripping “communities everywhere” of opportunities,” Dickinson warned, with retail often “the first job for students and young people, a flexible job for parents and carers, and a lifelong career for many more”.
Calls for ’meaningful dialogue’ over Employment Rights Bill
It comes as Labour’s Employments Rights Bill undergoes final scrutiny from the House of Lords this week, ahead of potentially becoming law.
The amended bill includes proposals to ban zero-hours contracts as well as clamp down on fire and rehiring practices. However, last month, Labour u-turned on proposals to introduce day-one rights for unfair dismissal.
Dickinson warned the measures risked further “damaging” retail employment opportunities if not implemented correctly. She called for “meaningful dialogue” between government, unions and employers to ensure it was introduced in a way that protected both employees and jobs.
“The government is trying to increase the number of people in work and retail jobs are a vital step on the path back to the workplace – combining local opportunity with the flexibility to work around other commitments,” Dickinson said.
“As the numbers of such jobs dry up, the bigger the challenge for government. This could become even harder if the Employment Rights Bill limits such flexibility; for instance, the government’s current proposals on guaranteed hours would make it harder for retailers to offer local, flexible, and part-time jobs.”
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