Festive retail jobs are on the rise
RETAIL and construction employment are benefiting particularly from the boost to economic growth in recent quarters, with shops ramping up their hiring ahead of Christmas.
Reed’s latest job index climbed by 28 per cent in the year to November, but the retail section has risen at almost twice the pace, with 49 per cent more posts last month than in November 2012.
Construction and property jobs are also up 69 per cent in the same period, mirroring the dramatic turnaround in the UK’s property market this year.
“Christmas is a crucial time of year for many businesses and a strong performance over the period can be the difference between a good year and a bad one. After a few years of disappointing Christmas performance, it’s encouraging to see businesses recruiting with confidence as they once again look to the festive season as a cornerstone of this year’s trading,” added James Reed, the jobs site’s chairman.
Despite the major boost to employment reported by Reed, late last month Deloitte suggested that the prospect for physical retailers was not particularly bright this Christmas, projecting a below-inflation increase in sales. The professional services firm forecasts that much of the increase in overall retail spending will come from online shopping this year.