General and operations managers. Responsibilities of general and operations managers vary but include overseeing workers. These managers draw up policies, direct daily operations, and plan the use of materials and human resources.
There were nearly 2 million general and operations managers overall in 2013, about 11 percent of whom worked in retail trade. Between 2012 and 2022, BLS projects this occupation to have average employment growth. About 613,100 job openings overall are expected to arise from that growth and from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food. Employed mainly by fast food restaurants, these workers take food and drink orders, retrieve finished orders, and accept customer payment. They may also heat food and prepare items, such as sandwiches.
There were 3 million food preparation and serving workers overall in 2013, almost 7 percent of whom were employed in retail trade. Between 2012 and 2022, BLS projects this occupation to have average employment growth. About 1.6 million job openings overall are expected to arise from that growth and from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Other occupations. Retail trade includes many occupations in addition to the 10 described above. As in almost every industry, occupations in this industry vary in duties, education and training requirements, and wages. For example, median annual wages in the retail trade industry in May 2013 ranged from $18,210 for models to $175,170 for chief executives.
In addition, the rate of employment growth or decline in some occupations is projected to be greater in retail trade than in all industries. For example, BLS projects employment of orthotists and prosthetists to increase nearly 42 percent in retail trade, compared with 36 percent growth projected in all industries. Employment of floral designers is expected to decline 13 percent in retail trade, compared with a projected decline of 8 percent overall.
Industry trends
Economic and technological changes affect retail trade just as they do other industries. Some of these changes have led to industry reorganization over the last decade; others might help to shape the future of retail trade.
Recent changes
Over the last 10 years, changes in the economy have influenced the growth of retail trade. When the economy worsens, consumers look for ways to save money — such as by shopping for products at reduced prices. This results in more workers being needed at discount stores. When the economy expands, consumers spend more of their disposable income — including on furniture and home furnishings, resulting in more retail workers hired at such businesses.
As the chart shows, employment in retail trade dropped during the recent recession and has risen as the economy improved, but it still hasn’t returned to where it was before the downturn.
But employment in retail trade doesn't always follow the economy. Employment related to electronic shopping and electronic auctions, for example, has increased every year since 2004, growing about 164 percent over the last decade. (This industry accounted for a very small part of retail trade employment, however, in 2013.) By comparison, overall employment growth for retail trade was just 0.1 percent.
The increasing popularity of online shopping has caused some retailers, such as electronics stores, to see declining employment over the past few years. This trend is expected to continue shaping the retail trade industry in the future.
Future developments
The retail trade industry is changing. Store mergers, more attention to customer service, and increased productivity are just a few of the ways that retailers are adapting as they forge into the future.
Other trends are expected to shape retail trade in the coming years. The industry may see a narrowing focus of "big box" stores, continued growth of online shopping, increasing use of technology and advances in automation, and other trends.
"Big box" retailers. Stores commonly known as "big box" retailers, such as warehouse clubs and supercenters, have grown steadily over the past decade. But the rise of online shopping could slow — or even reverse — this trend because these retailers can match many of the strengths of big box stores, such as wide selection and low prices.
The competitive advantage for brick-and-mortar stores is strong customer service, which is harder to provide with a broad range of products. Big box retailers may have more success by planning stores that have a specific focus, which would allow for better trained, more knowledgeable staff.
Online shopping. Online sales are less labor intensive than those in physical stores, because fewer workers are needed to deal with customers in person — leading to slower employment growth in the future.
In addition, the speed and convenience of online shopping are expected to continue driving growth. So-called anticipatory shipping, for example, may help retailers know what kind of products to keep in stock.
Online shopping affects sales with some types of retailers more than with others. Book, music, and movie stores face intense competition from online sales. Sporting goods stores and clothing stores face better prospects, because customers may prefer trying these products before buying them.
Recent legislation proposed in Congress would impose a sales tax on e-commerce outlets and retailers, which currently pay no tax in many states. The potential impact of this legislation on consumer behavior is not yet clear, but it could reduce online shopping’s price advantage.
Technology. Some occupations in retail trade could be affected by continued use of technology and increasing automation. For example, the duties of a car salesperson have changed because of technology. Car shoppers can research online for a make and model that fits their needs and budget and go into a dealership already focused on the car they want to buy. Because of this, a car salesperson’s role may be to help with the purchase by answering questions and completing paperwork.
Automation may affect food and beverage stores. Self-checkout stations at grocery stores may someday replace cashiers or retail salespersons, for example. However, employment of cashiers has remained stable so far, suggesting that customers still prefer interacting with human cashiers.
Other trends. Business improvements could also help physical stores to compete with online retailers. Dynamic pricing, for example, allows product cost to change with demand throughout the day. Social media helps stores see which items are popular, so they can feature them more prominently in their displays.
For more information
The retail trade industry employs workers in hundreds of occupations. For example, merchandise displayers and window trimmers plan and build commercial displays in the windows and interiors of retail stores. Security guards protect the people, products, money, and equipment in retail stores. And building cleaning workers keep retail stores in good condition by collecting trash, wiping surfaces, and sweeping floors.
For detailed information about those and other occupations, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). Each OOH profile includes information about job duties, wages, employment outlook, and more.
Find links to more BLS data for the retail trade industry on its Industries at a Glance page.
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) also has information about retail trade. Browse by industry or visit the retail trade page.
Visit the National Retail Federation’s Career Center to find career resources for the retail trade industry. These resources include information about scholarships, certifications, and training.
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