The recent 'Retail Employment Monitor Q2 2016' study, published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported a decline in ‘Full Time Equivalent' employment in the food retail sector, while the non-food sector saw a rise.
The equivalent number of full-time jobs fell by 2.4%, compared with the same period in 2015. In the second quarter of 2016, the number of retail outlets fell by 0.4%, compared with the same period a year ago. The main decrease occurred in the food retail sector.
British Retail Consortium CEO Helen Dickinson, commented: "Figures show that FTE employment in the retail industry has fallen at its fastest rate since the second quarter of 2014. The number of stores in the UK has also fallen again, albeit at a slower rate than we have previously seen. This continues to show dramatic structural changes underway in the retail industry”.
Economic conditions, competition between retailers and ever-changing shopping preferences were identified as the main challenges for the food retail sector today.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Martha Sparrius. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
