As many as a quarter of a million UK retail jobs have been lost over the past five years, according to a new ONS report.

The data shows that there were 2.8 million jobs recorded in December 2024, a period when retailers typically employ more people over Christmas.

The four-quarter average was 2.84 million jobs, 70,000 fewer than at the same period of last year and 249,000 less than five years ago.

The figures suggest that on a four-quarter average there were 1.5 million part-time and 1.34 million full-time jobs.

The total number of full-time jobs was down 106,000 on five years ago, while the number of part-time jobs declined by 142,000 compared to five years ago.

“The number of retail jobs in 2024 was the lowest since the data began in 1996, despite total jobs in the economy continuing to rise,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive, British Retail Consortium (BRC). “While this decline in retail jobs should be a concern to communities everywhere, worse could be yet to come.”

She went on to say that a recent survey of retail finance directors showed that half were planning hiring freezes or cutting jobs, both in head offices and stores across the UK.

Earlier this year, both Sainsbury's and Tesco announced plans to cut staff.

Sainsbury's said it would axe over 3,000 jobs as part of its strategy to simplify operations and address a challenging retail environment.

The supermarket chain is closing its remaining 61 in-store cafés and shutting down patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters as part of the move.

Tesco revealed plans layoff 400 employees across both its UK stores and head office as it looks for "more efficient ways of working".

“Jobs cuts are likely to fall disproportionately on part-time roles," continued Dickinson. "200,000 part-time jobs have already been lost over the last seven years, and up to 160,000 more part-time roles are at risk in the next three years.

"This matters: flexible retail roles are an important stepping stone for many people, whether it’s a first job out of school or a part-time role for those returning to the workforce or with caring responsibilities. As the Government’s welfare reforms aim to increase the numbers in work, flexible retail roles offer a first rung back onto the career ladder."

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