22,000 retail jobs created in three months

THE retail sector saw a net increase of more than 22,000 jobs during the second quarter of the year, with one-third of retailers planning to hire more staff in the next three months according to a study published today.

Many of the posts were at the 486 shops opened between April and June, according to the first quarterly retail employment monitor from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Data was gathered from companies that employ in excess of one million people and account for more than half of the UK's retail turnover.

The BRC has been collecting data for almost two year's to compile the figures, which it says represent the most up-to-date retail employment data available.

There was a 3 per cent year-on-year rise in the number of full-time equivalent staff in the second quarter.

Christina Tolvas-Vincent, head of retail employment at law firm Bond Pearce, which sponsored the survey, said: "The retail sector is often seen as a barometer for business confidence at large and such solid growth, in extremely difficult conditions, is a positive indicator that we are moving in the right direction.

"However, we are not out of the woods yet: with the effect of public-sector cuts and the increase in VAT still to come, there are challenges ahead."