Applications for retail jobs “plummet”
Salaries in the retail sector “soared” in the final few months of 2019 with growth of 7.2% year-on-year, but according to the latest quarterly job market report from independent job board CV-Library, applications for retail jobs “plummeted” by 18.5% during the same period.
The report looks at job market data throughout Q4 2019 and compares this with findings from the previous year. The retail industry experienced the second-largest drop in job applications, with the following industries seeing the biggest declines:
- Catering (down 61.3%)
- Retail (down 18.5%)
- Social care (down 13.9%)
- Customer service (down 10%)
- Sales (down 4.7%)
Lee Biggins, CEO and founder of CV-Library, commented: “With footfall down and the retail industry experiencing a fall in sales for the first time in 25 years, these statistics aren’t overly surprising, but it still spells bad news for employers in the industry.
“Christmas is usually a busy time for the retail sector, but with so few candidates applying for roles, many businesses were left struggling during the festive period.”
The Q4 report shows that job vacancies also fell during the three-month period, down by 6.3% despite an influx of seasonal and temporary workers.
“As businesses struggle to attract new talent, more employers are trying to entice candidates by offering a higher wage. While pay is a significant motivator for applicants, it isn’t the be all and end all,” said Biggins.
The CEO suggests retailers try to think of other ways to attract candidates, “such as offering desirable perks and discounts, improving your company culture and prioritising your candidate experience. In a weak market, attracting the best talent is key for success.”
About the Author
The GC Team Get Connected is the top trade journal for the UK electricals industry. Its website is the fastest, most interesting and up to date in the business.
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