UK retail has lost more than 360,000 jobs in the last decade

Full-time retail staff positions have dropped by 117,000 since 2015, with part-time roles falling by 246,000 over the same period.

In March, the four-quarter average showed 1.3 million full-time and 1.5 million part-time jobs in retail.

British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retail jobs have continued to fall, with 363,000 fewer jobs than 10 years ago.

“More jobs have been lost in retail in a decade than exist across the whole of the fishing, car manufacturing and steel-making industries combined. And while factory closures have quickly been met by promises of action, this wave of retail jobs losses appears to go unnoticed by the government.”

The latest figures from the ONS come just days after the BRC released its 2025 Retail Jobs Report, which warned of rising employment costs across the sector.

“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%,” Dickinson said.

“This matters: retail jobs are a vital part of the local economy right across the country. From young people taking their first step into the world of work, to parents and carers returning to the workforce around other commitments, retail has flexible and local roles for everyone. When we take retail jobs away, we do a disservice to the local communities that rely on them.”

The BRC warned that a further 160,000 roles could be at risk over the next three years if the government fails to act.

“The government has a clear path to securing the future of these flexible and local jobs. It must ensure the Employment Rights Bill tackles unscrupulous employers without hampering employment opportunities offered by responsible businesses,” Dickinson said.

“This will help the industry provide routes back into work for those who need it – a win-win for employees, employers, and the wider economy.”