The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has issued a stark warning over the state of retail employment in the UK, as figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal the number of retail jobs has plunged to a record low.

According to the latest ONS data, there were 2.73 million jobs in retail in June 2025, down by 97,000 compared with the previous year and 393,000 fewer than in 2015.

Over the past decade, the sector has lost around 400,000 positions, with job losses affecting both full-time and part-time roles. On a four-quarter average, there were 1.28 million full-time jobs – down 133,000 on a decade ago – and 1.5 million part-time jobs, which is 258,000 fewer over the same period.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson described the figures as a “stark warning”, pointing to the cumulative impact of rising employer taxes and higher wages, which she said have cost the industry more than £5 billion this year alone. Dickinson warned that the Employment Rights Bill is having a “materially negative impact on employment”, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also flagging concerns, and noted that the threat of further cost increases in the Autumn Budget is “looming large”.

“As costs mount on the industry, retail jobs are falling by the wayside,” Dickinson said. “Whether it is the additional complexity wrought by the Employment Rights Bill, or a new surtax on large retail premises, the impact of these policies will be to drive up prices and hold back retail employment.

“It is vital that the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget does not increase costs to the high street further, or else it will be working people who will pay the price as local, flexible jobs are lost, and the cost of living continues to rise.”

The BRC’s warning comes as the sector faces continued structural change, with digital transformation, automation, and the growth of e-commerce all contributing to reduced demand for traditional retail roles. Industry observers suggest that unless the government takes action to address rising costs and regulatory burdens, further job losses are likely in the coming years.

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