In 2023, the UK retail trade (excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles) employed 2.79 million people. Forecasts predict that this number will grow slightly to 2.8 million in 2024 and remain stable through 2025. A modest increase is expected in subsequent years, reaching 2.82 million by 2028, reflecting a 0.36% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2024. Year-on-year growth is minimal at approximately 0.36% between 2026-2028.
Future trends to watch for include the impact of technological advancements on retail jobs, shifts towards e-commerce, and the potential effects of economic conditions on employment levels in the retail sector.
