UK retail employment has fallen to its lowest level on record as retailers face higher payroll and wage costs, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
The sector had 2.75 million jobs in June 2026. The four-quarter average stood at 2.78 million in the year to the second quarter. This measure smooths out seasonal changes in employment.
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The four-quarter figure was 62,000 lower than a year earlier, 122,000 below the level recorded two years ago and 410,000 below the level a decade ago.
The BRC estimates that retailers’ employment costs have risen by £6.5bn ($8.8bn) over the past two years. It attributes the increase to higher employer National Insurance contributions and rises in the UK’s statutory minimum wage.
Part-time retail jobs fall to record low
Retail remains the UK’s largest private-sector industry by employment, ahead of hospitality and manufacturing.
Of the 2.78 million jobs recorded on a four-quarter average basis, 1.29 million were full-time and 1.50 million were part-time.
Part-time retail jobs are now at ...