The global number of employees in retail trade varies substantially by country. Germany, with 2.98 million employees, leads the market, followed by the United Kingdom with 2.79 million. Spain and Italy follow with 1.39 million and 1.32 million employees, respectively. Countries like Poland, South Korea, and the Netherlands also have significant numbers of employees in retail. Throughout 2023, most countries observed growth in employment numbers, notably Italy and Poland, each with over 1% growth. Conversely, the UK and New Zealand faced slight declines.
Future trends to watch in the retail employment sector include:
- An increasing shift towards digitization and e-commerce, potentially affecting traditional retail employment.
- Resilience in countries with strong service sector diversification, such as Germany and Poland.
- The balancing act of maintaining employment levels while integrating technology-driven efficiency improvements.
- Continued adaptation to post-pandemic consumer behavior shifts, influencing staffing needs.
Top countries in Number of Employees in Retail Trade (Except of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles) by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Thousand Units (Persons) | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Germany | 2,980 | 2023 | +0.44% | +0.43% | View data |
| 2 | 2 United Kingdom | 2,790 | 2023 | +0.19% | -0.042% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Spain | 1,390 | 2023 | +0.5% | +0.53% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Italy | 1,320 | 2023 | +1.19% | +1.21% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Poland | 1,310 | 2023 | +1.11% | +1.32% | View data |
| 6 | 6 South Korea | 1,120 | 2023 | +1.05% | +1.08% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Netherlands | 761 | 2023 | +0.93% | +0.75% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Austria | 350.38 | 2023 | +0.72% | +0.71% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Hungary | 338.52 | 2023 | +0.36% | +0.44% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Greece | 292.97 | 2023 | +0.92% | +1.05% | View data |
