The number of UK retail jobs has fallen by 364,000 over the past 10 years, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The data reveals that there were a total of 2.76 million jobs as of March 2025, around 93,000 fewer than the same month of the previous year, and 364,000 less than in 2015.

The number of full-time jobs was down 117,000 on a decade ago, while part time jobs declined by 246,000 over the same period.

The figures come days after chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Helen Dickinson warned that as many as 160,000 part-time retail roles - more than one-in-10 - are currently at risk from being lost in the next three years.

According to new figures released by the trade association, the UK retail industry has already lost nearly 10 times the number of jobs of the entire steelmaking sector over the past decade.

A report by the organisation reveals that the steel manufacturing industry has around 37,500 jobs, while the retail industry has lost 351,000 jobs over the past 10 years.

The BRC has claimed that while the government stepped in to prevent factory closures and save jobs in steelmaking, policymakers have done “nothing” in the retail industry, despite so many jobs being lost.

Commenting on the ONS figures, Dickinson said: “Retail jobs have continued to fall, with 364,000 fewer jobs than ten years ago. More jobs have been lost in retail in a decade than exist across the whole of the fishing, car manufacture and steel-making industries combined. And while factory closures have quickly been met by promises of action, this wave of retail jobs losses appears to go unnoticed by government."

She said that the cost of employing people for full-time entry-level roles has risen by 10 per cent, while the cost for part-time roles has increased by a 13 per cent.

"This matters: retail jobs are a vital part of the local economy right across the country," continued the chief exec. "From young people taking their first step into the world of work, to parents and carers returning to the workforce around other commitments, retail has flexible and local roles for everyone. When we take retail jobs away, we do a disservice to the local communities that rely on them."

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