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The number of full-time jobs rose by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2015 compared with the same period last year – the fastest rate of growth since March 2014.
That is according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Bond Dickinson Retail Employment Monitor, which found in the three months from July to September 2015 the number of retail outlets rose by 1.1%, with both food and non-food retailers contributing to growth.
The equivalent number of full-time employees in non-food retail rose in the third quarter of 2015, continuing a steady increase in investment in jobs.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “Retailers are beginning to prepare for extra demand at Christmas which shows in the rise of hours across the industry of 0.8%.
“The news that government policies could add £14bn to the retail wages, training and rates bill over the next five years casts a shadow over the possibility of future strong jobs growth. We will be watching the figures very closely to see how the impact of this additional burden affects employment prospects in retail going forward.”
The monitor found that 56% of the retailers in its sample intend to increase staffing levels in the next three months compared with 42% this time last year.
Meanwhile, some 4% of retailers intend to decrease staffing levels in the next three months – unchanged from last year – while 40% said they will keep staffing levels unchanged, down on 54% this time last year.
