Retail Jobs the Outlook.

With the New Year well and truly upon us and Christmas a distant memory retailers are now taking stock, counting their takings from their peak trading period over December and planning ahead for what hopefully be a productive 2012 in what is undoubtedly a demanding and challenging trading time for the industry.

Over recent weeks we have all read about the sad demise of some great retail brands on our high streets, Peacocks, Le Senza, Past Times, D2, Blacks, Barratts to name just a few. With this news you may ask what the future holds for the industry.

Retail conditions will remain tough throughout the whole of 2012 however the outlook is not all bleak. The retail industry employs 240,000 people in Scotland and retail jobs continue to be a huge contributor to the Scottish economy and the standard of living. Retail is an essential sector for offering that first job to young people and flexible working opportunities for parents and carers. Retail is genuinely meritocratic career option, which can lead from shop floor to board room.

Regardless of recent retail administrations and bad press according to the British Retail Consortium employment monitor retail jobs over the last 3 months have shown a growth in numbers. Although modest the number of retail jobs grew by 0.5% between the months of October to December compared to the same quarter the year before a result of 4,074 more full time retail jobs within the industry. This has been a result of a 1% increase in retail units opening within the same period equating to an additional 528 new retail shops across the UK.

Retail continues to be an ever changing dynamic industry that offers fantastic opportunities to all levels of candidates from Shop Floor Assistants to Directors at board level. Throughout these tough trading times the retail industry still provides solid career opportunities that have supported and provided many generations with a lifestyle and living standard that continue to grow in Scotland and across the UK.