// Retail job vacancies up 56.7 per cent last month
// Despite store closures, retailers are still keen to make the best hires
// Pay for new jobs in retail jumped up by 1.5%, making the average salary for retail employees in the UK £27,197
The high street might be plagued with store closures, but retailers are still keen to hire the best people for the job.
That’s according to new research from CV-Library, which found the amount of jobs on offer in the retail sector grew by a whopping 56.9 per cent last month.
While there may be a seasonal aspect to the growth in vacancies month-on-month, the research compares May 2018 to May 2019, which suggests there are other motives behind retailers upping their number of job vacancies.
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This could be down to the rise of zero hour contracts, or the decline of full time positions.
In the UK as a whole, research from Adzuna.co.uk at the end of 2018 found zero hour contract workers have tripled since 2012 and now account for a quarter of all employment growth in the past five years.
Speaking to Retail Gazette this morning, a spokesperson for CV-Library also pointed to the fact that not all jobs would be full time:
“Part-time roles especially could attribute to the exponential rise in job vacancies,” suggesting some retailers may be splitting roles between employees to fill casual and seasonal positions,” said the spokesperson.
Despite the rise in casual positions, CV-Library found pay for new jobs in retail rose by 1.5 per cent, making the average salary for retail employees in the UK £27,197.
“The fact that more retail professionals are applying for new jobs right now is positive news for businesses that are looking to hire, although marginal,” said CV-Library founder and chief executive Lee Biggins.
“The seven-month delay to Brexit deeply impacted confidence from domestic and overseas customers, but manufacturers remain hopeful. For now, organisations across the UK should continue with their recruitment efforts as usual, especially given the rise in job hunters looking for work,” Biggins added.
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