UK retailers have cut almost 15,000 jobs since the start of 2023, according to the Centre for Retail Research.
The data showed 14,874 job cuts or announced redundancies since the beginning of the year as cost pressures and low consumer confidence took effect.
The “brutal start” to 2023 saw retailers including Paperchase, Tile Giant and M&Co fall into administration, taking out 3,185 jobs.
Another 11,689 jobs were lost to rationalisation and cost-cutting at retailers including Tesco, Asda, Wilko and New Look within the last couple of months.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director at the Centre for Retail Research, said: “The process of rationalisation will continue at pace as retailers continue to reduce their cost base.
“We are unlikely to see any respite in job losses in 2023 after a brutal start to the year.”
The figures also revealed that nearly 700 stores had closed since the start of January. However, this would not account for relocations and is not a net total.
The Centre for Retail Research data reflects multiple retailers with more than 10 stores in the UK, with overall industry job losses expected to be higher when including smaller independent retailers.
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