BRC unveils boost to retail employment

Retail employment has grown at its fastest rate for two years, according to new data that suggests small businesses in the industry are flourishing.

Indeed, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed that retail recruitment increased by 2.9 per cent in the third quarter of the year.

This equates to 20,533 more full-time jobs, while there were many new part-time positions created, especially in the grocery sector.

Stephen Robertson, BRC director-general, said that there is "reason for optimism" following the release of figures.

"With good news about employment generally, signs that disposable incomes, consumer spending and inflation are moving in the right direction and expectations that we're about to see GDP growth return to positive territory, there's a sense that things could be getting better," he explained.

"That offers hope as the crucial Christmas trading period gathers pace."

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, published yesterday (October 25th), revealed that the UK economy grew by one per cent in the third quarter of the year.

Posted by Thomas Fletcher

Date published 31 Oct 2012 | Last updated 26 Oct 2012