Retail employment falls in second quarter of 2019
Figures from the British Retail Consortium have shown that UK retail employment fell by 2.3% in the three months to the end of June.
This equates to around 72,000 jobs lost since the same period last year.
The drop marked the fourteenth consecutive quarterly year-on-year decline.
The BRC’s figures reveal that the number of hours worked in the sector fell by 2.5% following a 2.8%% drop in April, a 3.2% fall in May and 1.4% decline in June.
Helen Dickinson BRC chief executive, said such declines were likely to endure for some time due to the sector being under immense pressure.
She added: “With a new Prime Minister and cabinet in place, there is a clear opportunity to rethink the high street strategy. Business rates pose an unsustainable burden on shops and jobs, and we urge the Government to provide immediate relief to retailers large and small in order to facilitate much needed investment in the digital and physical offerings they provide to their customers.”
