January 2021 | Vol. 10 / No. 2
EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT
Employment trends in retail trade, 2010–19
By Osman Alhassan
Americans purchase consumer goods as part of their daily lives. These goods—and the way in which they are purchased—have changed over time. Customer behavior changes have affected employment in the retail trade industry.
The retail trade industry “comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise,” according to the 2017 North American Industry Classification System.1 Retail establishments are further classified into 12 major subsectors: motor vehicle and parts dealers; furniture and home furnishing stores; electronics and appliance stores; building materials and garden supply stores; food and beverage stores; health and personal care stores; gasoline stations; clothing and clothing accessories stores; sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores; general merchandise stores; miscellaneous store retailers; and nonstore retailers.
This Beyond the Numbers article analyzes employment trends in retail trade since 2010, using data from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. It also examines the growth in retail sales with emphasis on e-commerce sales, both from the U.S. Census Bureau, and in relation to employment in retail trade.
Employment trends in retail trade
From December 2009 to December 2019 employment in retail trade rose by 9 percent, or 1.3 million. In contrast, total private employment grew by 21 percent over the same period. Although retail trade showed a net growth over the decade, retail employment peaked in January 2017 and began declining through 2019—losing 248,000 jobs. (See chart 1.) Over the 10-year period, job growth in retail trade was not pervasive. Some industries experienced job gains, while others encountered employment declines.
Chart 1. Over-the-year employment change in retail trade, seasonally adjusted, 2010–19
Year |
Employment |
2010
|
139 |
2011
|
273 |
2012
|
167 |
2013
|
374 |
2014
|
223 |
2015
|
189 |
2016
|
193 |
2017
|
-90 |
2018
|
-98 |
2019
|
-32 |
To aid in this analysis, we grouped the 12-industry components in retail trade into four categories based on employment growth rates relative to total private employment:
- Strong-growth industries are those which exhibited more than a 21-percent growth rate over the period.
- Medium-growth industries are those which grew by 10 percent or more, but less than 21 percent over the period.
- Slow-growth industries are those that grew by less than 10 percent.
- Contracting industries are those in which employment declined.
Strong-growth industries
Motor vehicle and parts dealers and nonstore retailers composed the strong employment growth group. Employment in motor vehicle and parts dealers is partially driven by vehicle sales. Between January 2010 and August 2015, total vehicle sales rose from an annualized rate of 10.9 million to 18.4 million, then fluctuated between 17 million and 18 million through December 2019.2 As total vehicle sales rose, employment in motor vehicle and parts dealers grew steadily, reflecting a 27-percent increase over the period. (See chart 2.) Since December 2009, motor vehicle and parts dealers have accounted for 440,000 jobs—the largest job gain among the retail industries. (See table 1.)
Employment in nonstore retailers rose by 29 percent over the period. (See chart 2.) In December 2009, nonstore retailers, accounted for the smallest number of jobs among all retail industries, with 427,000 jobs. Since then, the industry continuously added jobs until 2017, and then, employment flattened out through 2019. Establishments in this industry include electronic shopping and mail-order houses, vending machine operators, direct selling establishments, fuel dealers, and other direct selling establishments.
Sales in nonstore retailers support jobs in the transportation and warehousing sector, which transport goods to the customer or store goods prior to sale. Within the transportation sector, couriers and messengers and warehousing and storage experienced rapid employment growth over the period, by 72 percent and 90 percent respectively. The correlation broke down in 2017, as employment flattened in nonstore retailers, job growth continued in couriers and messengers and in warehousing and storage. (See chart 2.)
Chart 2. Employment in strong-growth industries, seasonally adjusted, January 2010–December 2019, January 2010=100
Year |
Total private |
Motor vehicle and parts dealers |
Nonstore retailers |
Couriers and messengers |
Warehousing and storage |
Jan 2010
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Feb 2010
|
99.9 |
99.9 |
100.6 |
101.4 |
100.0 |
Mar 2010
|
100.1 |
100.1 |
101.5 |
101.3 |
100.7 |
Apr 2010
|
100.2 |
100.5 |
102.1 |
101.6 |
101.0 |
May 2010
|
100.3 |
100.8 |
102.3 |
101.7 |
101.3 |
Jun 2010
|
100.4 |
100.7 |
102.8 |
102.0 |
101.9 |
Jul 2010
|
100.5 |
100.7 |
102.7 |
102.1 |
101.2 |
Aug 2010
|
100.7 |
101.1 |
102.7 |
102.2 |
101.4 |
Sep 2010
|
100.8 |
101.6 |
103.2 |
102.8 |
101.8 |
Oct 2010
|
101.0 |
102.0 |
103.2 |
102.8 |
102.1 |
Nov 2010
|
101.1 |
102.6 |
102.0 |
102.6 |
102.5 |
Dec 2010
|
101.2 |
102.9 |
102.4 |
106.6 |
102.7 |
Jan 2011
|
101.2 |
103.1 |
103.6 |
100.4 |
102.8 |
Feb 2011
|
101.4 |
103.4 |
103.6 |
102.6 |
103.1 |
Mar 2011
|
101.7 |
103.7 |
104.2 |
102.8 |
103.1 |
Apr 2011
|
102.0 |
104.3 |
104.4 |
103.1 |
103.5 |
May 2011
|
102.1 |
104.6 |
105.5 |
103.2 |
103.8 |
Jun 2011
|
102.3 |
104.7 |
105.1 |
103.1 |
104.4 |
Jul 2011
|
102.5 |
105.3 |
105.7 |
103.3 |
104.9 |
Aug 2011
|
102.6 |
105.5 |
106.3 |
103.4 |
105.3 |
Sep 2011
|
102.9 |
105.6 |
106.3 |
103.5 |
105.5 |
Oct 2011
|
103.0 |
106.0 |
106.6 |
103.5 |
105.7 |
Nov 2011
|
103.2 |
106.2 |
106.4 |
102.9 |
105.9 |
Dec 2011
|
103.4 |
106.4 |
106.0 |
101.1 |
106.3 |
Jan 2012
|
103.7 |
106.6 |
107.7 |
100.8 |
106.7 |
Feb 2012
|
104.0 |
107.1 |
107.9 |
102.7 |
107.4 |
Mar 2012
|
104.2 |
107.2 |
107.5 |
103.1 |
107.6 |
Apr 2012
|
104.3 |
107.2 |
107.6 |
103.0 |
108.5 |
May 2012
|
104.4 |
107.3 |
108.1 |
103.5 |
109.3 |
Jun 2012
|
104.5 |
107.5 |
108.8 |
104.0 |
109.8 |
Jul 2012
|
104.6 |
107.3 |
109.4 |
104.1 |
110.4 |
Aug 2012
|
104.8 |
107.8 |
109.4 |
104.4 |
110.7 |
Sep 2012
|
104.9 |
108.2 |
109.1 |
104.4 |
111.2 |
Oct 2012
|
105.1 |
108.8 |
108.9 |
103.6 |
111.8 |
Nov 2012
|
105.3 |
108.9 |
109.6 |
101.3 |
112.4 |
Dec 2012
|
105.5 |
109.0 |
110.2 |
104.6 |
113.6 |
Jan 2013
|
105.7 |
109.4 |
110.5 |
105.0 |
112.4 |
Feb 2013
|
105.9 |
109.7 |
111.1 |
104.4 |
112.4 |
Mar 2013
|
106.1 |
110.1 |
111.4 |
104.3 |
112.6 |
Apr 2013
|
106.2 |
110.3 |
111.8 |
104.2 |
112.7 |
May 2013
|
106.5 |
110.6 |
112.3 |
104.3 |
112.6 |
Jun 2013
|
106.6 |
110.9 |
113.2 |
104.3 |
113.1 |
Jul 2013
|
106.8 |
111.4 |
113.9 |
105.2 |
113.5 |
Aug 2013
|
107.0 |
111.8 |
114.3 |
106.0 |
114.0 |
Sep 2013
|
107.2 |
112.2 |
114.5 |
105.6 |
114.8 |
Oct 2013
|
107.4 |
112.4 |
115.7 |
106.1 |
115.1 |
Nov 2013
|
107.6 |
112.7 |
116.1 |
106.8 |
115.7 |
Dec 2013
|
107.7 |
113.1 |
116.9 |
106.7 |
116.3 |
Jan 2014
|
107.9 |
113.3 |
118.2 |
110.3 |
115.9 |
Feb 2014
|
108.0 |
113.7 |
118.8 |
108.0 |
116.3 |
Mar 2014
|
108.2 |
113.9 |
119.2 |
107.2 |
117.1 |
Apr 2014
|
108.5 |
114.6 |
120.8 |
108.1 |
117.7 |
May 2014
|
108.7 |
115.0 |
120.1 |
109.4 |
118.8 |
Jun 2014
|
109.0 |
115.7 |
121.1 |
110.8 |
119.8 |
Jul 2014
|
109.2 |
115.8 |
120.9 |
111.6 |
120.8 |
Aug 2014
|
109.4 |
116.3 |
120.7 |
112.0 |
121.6 |
Sep 2014
|
109.7 |
116.4 |
121.2 |
112.9 |
121.9 |
Oct 2014
|
109.9 |
116.7 |
121.5 |
113.6 |
122.2 |
Nov 2014
|
110.1 |
117.1 |
123.3 |
114.4 |
123.3 |
Dec 2014
|
110.4 |
117.4 |
121.9 |
118.3 |
123.6 |
Jan 2015
|
110.5 |
117.7 |
122.2 |
117.0 |
125.0 |
Feb 2015
|
110.8 |
118.2 |
122.6 |
117.0 |
126.8 |
Mar 2015
|
110.8 |
118.4 |
122.8 |
117.2 |
127.7 |
Apr 2015
|
111.1 |
118.6 |
123.4 |
116.2 |
128.7 |
May 2015
|
111.4 |
119.2 |
124.0 |
116.4 |
129.9 |
Jun 2015
|
111.5 |
119.4 |
124.4 |
117.5 |
131.8 |
Jul 2015
|
111.8 |
120.1 |
124.9 |
118.1 |
133.6 |
Aug 2015
|
111.9 |
120.1 |
125.5 |
118.3 |
134.6 |
Sep 2015
|
112.1 |
120.3 |
126.2 |
118.9 |
135.8 |
Oct 2015
|
112.3 |
120.8 |
127.1 |
118.7 |
137.4 |
Nov 2015
|
112.5 |
121.1 |
127.9 |
120.0 |
138.5 |
Dec 2015
|
112.8 |
121.6 |
128.6 |
124.4 |
140.2 |
Jan 2016
|
112.8 |
121.9 |
128.5 |
118.6 |
141.5 |
Feb 2016
|
113.0 |
122.0 |
128.4 |
120.8 |
142.6 |
Mar 2016
|
113.2 |
122.3 |
128.9 |
121.9 |
143.8 |
Apr 2016
|
113.4 |
122.4 |
129.2 |
122.7 |
145.4 |
May 2016
|
113.4 |
122.4 |
129.1 |
123.4 |
146.5 |
Jun 2016
|
113.7 |
122.6 |
130.2 |
124.1 |
147.5 |
Jul 2016
|
113.9 |
122.7 |
131.1 |
124.7 |
148.8 |
Aug 2016
|
114.1 |
122.9 |
131.5 |
125.5 |
149.8 |
Sep 2016
|
114.3 |
123.2 |
131.6 |
126.0 |
151.0 |
Oct 2016
|
114.4 |
123.3 |
133.1 |
126.0 |
152.0 |
Nov 2016
|
114.6 |
123.6 |
134.0 |
127.2 |
153.3 |
Dec 2016
|
114.8 |
123.7 |
134.9 |
132.0 |
154.8 |
Jan 2017
|
114.9 |
124.1 |
135.6 |
125.9 |
155.8 |
Feb 2017
|
115.1 |
124.2 |
136.3 |
128.1 |
156.3 |
Mar 2017
|
115.2 |
124.1 |
136.6 |
127.8 |
157.1 |
Apr 2017
|
115.4 |
124.2 |
136.7 |
128.7 |
158.8 |
May 2017
|
115.5 |
124.2 |
136.9 |
129.9 |
160.1 |
Jun 2017
|
115.7 |
124.2 |
136.9 |
130.6 |
162.1 |
Jul 2017
|
115.9 |
124.4 |
136.5 |
130.8 |
163.2 |
Aug 2017
|
116.1 |
124.3 |
135.9 |
132.0 |
165.1 |
Sep 2017
|
116.1 |
124.2 |
136.2 |
132.7 |
166.4 |
Oct 2017
|
116.3 |
124.5 |
136.2 |
134.0 |
168.7 |
Nov 2017
|
116.5 |
124.7 |
135.9 |
133.0 |
171.4 |
Dec 2017
|
116.7 |
124.7 |
135.9 |
135.2 |
172.7 |
Jan 2018
|
116.8 |
124.8 |
136.2 |
133.6 |
174.1 |
Feb 2018
|
117.1 |
124.9 |
136.4 |
135.5 |
176.0 |
Mar 2018
|
117.3 |
124.9 |
136.8 |
137.4 |
178.0 |
Apr 2018
|
117.4 |
124.8 |
137.3 |
139.8 |
178.6 |
May 2018
|
117.7 |
124.7 |
136.5 |
141.3 |
180.1 |
Jun 2018
|
117.8 |
124.9 |
136.6 |
142.4 |
180.6 |
Jul 2018
|
118.0 |
125.0 |
137.0 |
144.2 |
180.7 |
Aug 2018
|
118.2 |
125.0 |
137.1 |
145.6 |
182.1 |
Sep 2018
|
118.2 |
125.0 |
137.3 |
147.4 |
183.7 |
Oct 2018
|
118.4 |
125.2 |
137.0 |
149.8 |
185.7 |
Nov 2018
|
118.5 |
125.0 |
136.9 |
151.0 |
186.2 |
Dec 2018
|
118.7 |
125.3 |
136.4 |
149.2 |
185.4 |
Jan 2019
|
118.9 |
125.2 |
136.5 |
154.5 |
187.2 |
Feb 2019
|
118.9 |
125.3 |
137.1 |
153.1 |
187.8 |
Mar 2019
|
119.1 |
125.4 |
136.6 |
153.9 |
188.0 |
Apr 2019
|
119.2 |
125.8 |
136.5 |
154.3 |
188.4 |
May 2019
|
119.3 |
125.9 |
136.3 |
155.0 |
188.5 |
Jun 2019
|
119.5 |
125.9 |
135.9 |
156.5 |
188.7 |
Jul 2019
|
119.6 |
126.0 |
135.4 |
158.0 |
189.2 |
Aug 2019
|
119.8 |
126.4 |
135.1 |
159.0 |
189.2 |
Sep 2019
|
120.0 |
126.7 |
134.1 |
159.7 |
189.6 |
Oct 2019
|
120.1 |
126.8 |
134.0 |
160.5 |
189.4 |
Nov 2019
|
120.4 |
127.4 |
133.8 |
163.6 |
189.5 |
Dec 2019
|
120.5 |
127.6 |
132.6 |
163.8 |
189.4 |
Medium-growth industries
From 2010 and 2019, building material and garden supply stores; food and beverage stores; and gasoline stations experienced moderate employment gains. Employment growth was relatively stronger in gasoline stations (16 percent), and in building materials and garden supply stores (15 percent). (See chart 3.)
Chart 3. Employment in moderate-growth industries, seasonally adjusted, January 2010–December 2019, January 2010=100
Year |
Total private |
Building materials and garden supply stores |
Food and beverage stores |
Gasoline stations |
Jan 2010
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Feb 2010
|
99.9 |
100.3 |
99.6 |
99.9 |
Mar 2010
|
100.1 |
100.7 |
99.6 |
99.8 |
Apr 2010
|
100.2 |
100.4 |
99.7 |
100.0 |
May 2010
|
100.3 |
100.2 |
99.6 |
100.0 |
Jun 2010
|
100.4 |
99.2 |
99.5 |
99.9 |
Jul 2010
|
100.5 |
99.0 |
99.5 |
100.4 |
Aug 2010
|
100.7 |
99.1 |
99.6 |
100.1 |
Sep 2010
|
100.8 |
99.1 |
99.6 |
100.4 |
Oct 2010
|
101.0 |
99.1 |
99.6 |
100.3 |
Nov 2010
|
101.1 |
98.9 |
99.6 |
100.3 |
Dec 2010
|
101.2 |
99.4 |
99.6 |
100.4 |
Jan 2011
|
101.2 |
99.7 |
99.7 |
100.7 |
Feb 2011
|
101.4 |
99.6 |
99.7 |
100.6 |
Mar 2011
|
101.7 |
100.5 |
99.8 |
100.9 |
Apr 2011
|
102.0 |
101.5 |
100.2 |
101.1 |
May 2011
|
102.1 |
100.7 |
100.0 |
101.4 |
Jun 2011
|
102.3 |
100.8 |
100.2 |
101.7 |
Jul 2011
|
102.5 |
100.6 |
100.2 |
101.9 |
Aug 2011
|
102.6 |
100.9 |
100.2 |
101.9 |
Sep 2011
|
102.9 |
100.9 |
100.3 |
101.6 |
Oct 2011
|
103.0 |
101.2 |
100.4 |
102.1 |
Nov 2011
|
103.2 |
101.5 |
100.3 |
102.4 |
Dec 2011
|
103.4 |
101.6 |
100.5 |
102.4 |
Jan 2012
|
103.7 |
101.9 |
100.7 |
102.5 |
Feb 2012
|
104.0 |
102.2 |
100.7 |
102.5 |
Mar 2012
|
104.2 |
103.4 |
101.0 |
102.7 |
Apr 2012
|
104.3 |
103.9 |
101.0 |
103.0 |
May 2012
|
104.4 |
103.3 |
101.3 |
103.0 |
Jun 2012
|
104.5 |
103.2 |
101.3 |
103.0 |
Jul 2012
|
104.6 |
103.5 |
101.4 |
103.0 |
Aug 2012
|
104.8 |
103.1 |
101.6 |
103.1 |
Sep 2012
|
104.9 |
103.3 |
101.8 |
103.4 |
Oct 2012
|
105.1 |
103.4 |
101.9 |
103.4 |
Nov 2012
|
105.3 |
103.7 |
102.5 |
103.8 |
Dec 2012
|
105.5 |
104.2 |
102.6 |
104.2 |
Jan 2013
|
105.7 |
104.4 |
102.8 |
104.2 |
Feb 2013
|
105.9 |
105.0 |
103.0 |
104.8 |
Mar 2013
|
106.1 |
104.8 |
103.0 |
104.9 |
Apr 2013
|
106.2 |
105.1 |
103.2 |
105.2 |
May 2013
|
106.5 |
105.3 |
103.5 |
105.4 |
Jun 2013
|
106.6 |
106.0 |
103.6 |
105.8 |
Jul 2013
|
106.8 |
106.4 |
103.8 |
106.6 |
Aug 2013
|
107.0 |
106.8 |
104.4 |
106.4 |
Sep 2013
|
107.2 |
107.2 |
104.6 |
106.8 |
Oct 2013
|
107.4 |
107.7 |
104.9 |
107.3 |
Nov 2013
|
107.6 |
107.9 |
105.0 |
107.0 |
Dec 2013
|
107.7 |
107.8 |
105.4 |
106.9 |
Jan 2014
|
107.9 |
107.7 |
105.2 |
107.0 |
Feb 2014
|
108.0 |
107.6 |
105.4 |
106.8 |
Mar 2014
|
108.2 |
106.6 |
105.6 |
107.1 |
Apr 2014
|
108.5 |
107.7 |
106.2 |
107.2 |
May 2014
|
108.7 |
108.1 |
106.2 |
107.5 |
Jun 2014
|
109.0 |
108.5 |
106.4 |
107.6 |
Jul 2014
|
109.2 |
108.7 |
106.8 |
107.8 |
Aug 2014
|
109.4 |
108.6 |
106.3 |
108.1 |
Sep 2014
|
109.7 |
108.5 |
107.2 |
108.2 |
Oct 2014
|
109.9 |
108.4 |
107.6 |
108.5 |
Nov 2014
|
110.1 |
108.4 |
107.8 |
109.0 |
Dec 2014
|
110.4 |
108.1 |
108.1 |
108.8 |
Jan 2015
|
110.5 |
108.3 |
108.4 |
109.2 |
Feb 2015
|
110.8 |
108.4 |
108.4 |
109.5 |
Mar 2015
|
110.8 |
107.5 |
108.4 |
109.7 |
Apr 2015
|
111.1 |
108.3 |
108.5 |
110.1 |
May 2015
|
111.4 |
108.6 |
108.6 |
110.2 |
Jun 2015
|
111.5 |
108.4 |
108.9 |
110.8 |
Jul 2015
|
111.8 |
108.4 |
108.9 |
110.8 |
Aug 2015
|
111.9 |
108.4 |
108.9 |
111.1 |
Sep 2015
|
112.1 |
108.7 |
109.0 |
111.1 |
Oct 2015
|
112.3 |
109.0 |
108.7 |
111.5 |
Nov 2015
|
112.5 |
109.3 |
108.5 |
111.6 |
Dec 2015
|
112.8 |
109.8 |
108.3 |
112.0 |
Jan 2016
|
112.8 |
110.1 |
108.4 |
112.1 |
Feb 2016
|
113.0 |
110.5 |
109.2 |
112.4 |
Mar 2016
|
113.2 |
111.1 |
109.3 |
112.5 |
Apr 2016
|
113.4 |
111.5 |
109.4 |
112.6 |
May 2016
|
113.4 |
111.6 |
109.5 |
112.6 |
Jun 2016
|
113.7 |
111.8 |
109.9 |
112.4 |
Jul 2016
|
113.9 |
111.6 |
109.9 |
112.9 |
Aug 2016
|
114.1 |
112.3 |
110.0 |
112.6 |
Sep 2016
|
114.3 |
111.7 |
110.1 |
113.4 |
Oct 2016
|
114.4 |
111.5 |
110.0 |
113.6 |
Nov 2016
|
114.6 |
111.6 |
109.9 |
112.9 |
Dec 2016
|
114.8 |
111.7 |
109.8 |
113.4 |
Jan 2017
|
114.9 |
111.5 |
109.8 |
113.5 |
Feb 2017
|
115.1 |
111.1 |
109.8 |
113.6 |
Mar 2017
|
115.2 |
111.2 |
109.8 |
113.7 |
Apr 2017
|
115.4 |
111.3 |
109.5 |
113.6 |
May 2017
|
115.5 |
111.2 |
109.4 |
113.7 |
Jun 2017
|
115.7 |
111.4 |
109.4 |
113.7 |
Jul 2017
|
115.9 |
112.0 |
109.3 |
113.6 |
Aug 2017
|
116.1 |
112.1 |
109.3 |
113.6 |
Sep 2017
|
116.1 |
112.8 |
109.1 |
113.5 |
Oct 2017
|
116.3 |
113.4 |
109.1 |
113.6 |
Nov 2017
|
116.5 |
113.8 |
109.4 |
113.9 |
Dec 2017
|
116.7 |
114.0 |
109.4 |
113.5 |
Jan 2018
|
116.8 |
114.4 |
109.3 |
113.8 |
Feb 2018
|
117.1 |
115.2 |
109.3 |
113.8 |
Mar 2018
|
117.3 |
115.6 |
109.2 |
113.9 |
Apr 2018
|
117.4 |
115.2 |
109.2 |
113.9 |
May 2018
|
117.7 |
115.3 |
109.2 |
113.9 |
Jun 2018
|
117.8 |
115.0 |
108.7 |
113.8 |
Jul 2018
|
118.0 |
114.8 |
108.9 |
113.8 |
Aug 2018
|
118.2 |
114.1 |
108.9 |
113.8 |
Sep 2018
|
118.2 |
113.7 |
108.7 |
114.0 |
Oct 2018
|
118.4 |
113.4 |
108.7 |
113.7 |
Nov 2018
|
118.5 |
113.4 |
108.8 |
114.2 |
Dec 2018
|
118.7 |
113.4 |
109.0 |
114.5 |
Jan 2019
|
118.9 |
113.4 |
108.9 |
115.0 |
Feb 2019
|
118.9 |
113.5 |
109.0 |
115.0 |
Mar 2019
|
119.1 |
113.4 |
108.9 |
114.6 |
Apr 2019
|
119.2 |
113.2 |
109.0 |
114.6 |
May 2019
|
119.3 |
113.2 |
108.9 |
115.0 |
Jun 2019
|
119.5 |
113.5 |
108.9 |
115.4 |
Jul 2019
|
119.6 |
113.7 |
109.1 |
115.8 |
Aug 2019
|
119.8 |
114.4 |
109.0 |
115.9 |
Sep 2019
|
120.0 |
114.8 |
109.4 |
116.1 |
Oct 2019
|
120.1 |
115.0 |
109.7 |
116.4 |
Nov 2019
|
120.4 |
114.5 |
109.7 |
116.3 |
Dec 2019
|
120.5 |
114.8 |
109.6 |
116.3 |
Employment in food and beverage stores showed the weakest job growth among the medium-growth retail industries, however, it represented the greatest share of industry employment in retail trade at the end of 2019. Food and beverage stores steadily added jobs through 2016, and then employment plateaued through 2019. Since December 2009, the industry added 286,000 jobs. (See table 1.)
Slow-growth industries
General merchandise stores, which sell a wide array of products; furniture and home furnishing stores; health and personal care stores; and miscellaneous store retailers (such as florists, office supply, and pet stores) exhibited sluggish employment growth between 2010 and 2019. Employment growth ranged from 5 percent in general merchandise stores to 7 percent in the other slow-growth retail industries. (See chart 4.) In December 2009, employment in general merchandise stores, at 2.9 million, represented one-fifth of retail trade employment. General merchandise added 138,000 jobs over the 2010–19 period. Employment in other slow-growth industries rose until 2016, and then leveled off through 2019.
Chart 4. Employment in slow-growth industries, seasonally adjusted, January 2010–December 2019, January 2010=100
Year |
Health and personal care stores |
Furniture and home furnishing stores |
General merchandise stores |
Miscellaneous store retailers |
Jan 2010
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Feb 2010
|
99.6 |
100.2 |
100.2 |
99.8 |
Mar 2010
|
99.5 |
100.2 |
101.4 |
99.7 |
Apr 2010
|
99.5 |
99.8 |
100.5 |
99.5 |
May 2010
|
99.7 |
100.0 |
101.1 |
99.0 |
Jun 2010
|
99.7 |
100.2 |
101.7 |
98.9 |
Jul 2010
|
99.4 |
99.5 |
102.2 |
99.0 |
Aug 2010
|
99.3 |
99.5 |
102.5 |
98.4 |
Sep 2010
|
99.2 |
100.0 |
102.7 |
98.3 |
Oct 2010
|
99.3 |
100.5 |
102.9 |
98.6 |
Nov 2010
|
99.3 |
100.1 |
102.3 |
98.7 |
Dec 2010
|
99.1 |
100.5 |
102.1 |
99.0 |
Jan 2011
|
99.0 |
100.1 |
103.1 |
99.4 |
Feb 2011
|
99.0 |
100.2 |
103.7 |
99.5 |
Mar 2011
|
98.9 |
100.4 |
103.8 |
100.2 |
Apr 2011
|
99.2 |
100.5 |
104.2 |
100.2 |
May 2011
|
99.5 |
100.2 |
104.1 |
100.1 |
Jun 2011
|
99.4 |
100.1 |
104.7 |
100.6 |
Jul 2011
|
99.8 |
100.3 |
105.1 |
102.2 |
Aug 2011
|
99.9 |
100.0 |
105.0 |
100.7 |
Sep 2011
|
100.1 |
100.2 |
105.1 |
101.2 |
Oct 2011
|
99.9 |
100.6 |
105.3 |
100.9 |
Nov 2011
|
100.1 |
100.4 |
105.5 |
100.5 |
Dec 2011
|
100.1 |
100.1 |
105.4 |
101.2 |
Jan 2012
|
100.4 |
100.3 |
106.9 |
101.9 |
Feb 2012
|
100.8 |
99.9 |
105.0 |
102.4 |
Mar 2012
|
101.1 |
100.2 |
104.7 |
102.6 |
Apr 2012
|
100.9 |
99.8 |
104.7 |
102.9 |
May 2012
|
100.8 |
100.1 |
104.3 |
103.3 |
Jun 2012
|
100.8 |
99.9 |
103.5 |
103.1 |
Jul 2012
|
101.1 |
99.7 |
103.3 |
102.9 |
Aug 2012
|
101.3 |
99.9 |
103.0 |
103.7 |
Sep 2012
|
101.4 |
99.8 |
103.0 |
104.6 |
Oct 2012
|
102.2 |
100.1 |
103.0 |
104.5 |
Nov 2012
|
102.3 |
100.6 |
103.0 |
104.4 |
Dec 2012
|
102.1 |
101.0 |
102.8 |
104.2 |
Jan 2013
|
102.1 |
100.8 |
102.5 |
103.9 |
Feb 2013
|
102.2 |
101.1 |
102.6 |
104.1 |
Mar 2013
|
102.5 |
101.1 |
102.9 |
103.7 |
Apr 2013
|
103.2 |
101.7 |
103.1 |
104.2 |
May 2013
|
102.7 |
101.8 |
103.4 |
104.4 |
Jun 2013
|
102.4 |
101.5 |
103.7 |
105.5 |
Jul 2013
|
102.8 |
101.7 |
103.9 |
105.2 |
Aug 2013
|
103.3 |
100.5 |
104.0 |
105.1 |
Sep 2013
|
104.1 |
101.1 |
104.2 |
104.7 |
Oct 2013
|
103.9 |
101.7 |
104.3 |
104.8 |
Nov 2013
|
103.6 |
102.3 |
104.5 |
104.5 |
Dec 2013
|
104.0 |
103.4 |
104.8 |
104.3 |
Jan 2014
|
103.5 |
102.9 |
105.0 |
105.1 |
Feb 2014
|
102.4 |
102.6 |
105.1 |
105.8 |
Mar 2014
|
103.1 |
102.7 |
104.9 |
106.0 |
Apr 2014
|
103.1 |
103.0 |
104.9 |
106.2 |
May 2014
|
103.4 |
102.9 |
105.1 |
106.6 |
Jun 2014
|
103.5 |
103.1 |
105.2 |
106.2 |
Jul 2014
|
103.8 |
103.5 |
105.3 |
106.3 |
Aug 2014
|
103.9 |
104.7 |
105.3 |
106.9 |
Sep 2014
|
104.2 |
105.5 |
105.2 |
107.2 |
Oct 2014
|
104.5 |
106.5 |
105.3 |
108.1 |
Nov 2014
|
104.7 |
105.9 |
105.3 |
107.2 |
Dec 2014
|
104.4 |
105.4 |
105.5 |
107.1 |
Jan 2015
|
104.5 |
105.8 |
105.6 |
107.2 |
Feb 2015
|
104.9 |
106.5 |
105.7 |
107.1 |
Mar 2015
|
104.8 |
106.4 |
106.2 |
107.1 |
Apr 2015
|
104.8 |
106.7 |
106.3 |
107.1 |
May 2015
|
104.8 |
106.9 |
106.4 |
107.4 |
Jun 2015
|
105.1 |
107.1 |
106.4 |
107.3 |
Jul 2015
|
105.2 |
107.2 |
106.4 |
107.6 |
Aug 2015
|
105.1 |
107.1 |
106.3 |
107.6 |
Sep 2015
|
105.1 |
107.0 |
106.3 |
107.6 |
Oct 2015
|
104.7 |
106.6 |
106.2 |
107.3 |
Nov 2015
|
104.6 |
106.3 |
106.3 |
108.6 |
Dec 2015
|
104.7 |
105.8 |
106.3 |
109.9 |
Jan 2016
|
104.9 |
106.6 |
106.6 |
108.7 |
Feb 2016
|
105.4 |
106.9 |
107.2 |
107.9 |
Mar 2016
|
105.9 |
107.1 |
108.0 |
107.8 |
Apr 2016
|
106.6 |
107.2 |
107.7 |
108.1 |
May 2016
|
106.6 |
107.6 |
107.6 |
108.1 |
Jun 2016
|
107.2 |
108.2 |
107.7 |
108.4 |
Jul 2016
|
107.3 |
108.4 |
107.6 |
108.4 |
Aug 2016
|
107.5 |
108.8 |
107.7 |
108.7 |
Sep 2016
|
107.5 |
108.2 |
107.7 |
108.4 |
Oct 2016
|
107.7 |
107.8 |
107.8 |
109.2 |
Nov 2016
|
107.9 |
107.2 |
107.5 |
108.5 |
Dec 2016
|
108.3 |
107.7 |
107.4 |
108.3 |
Jan 2017
|
108.8 |
108.7 |
107.4 |
108.0 |
Feb 2017
|
108.9 |
109.0 |
106.5 |
108.2 |
Mar 2017
|
108.6 |
108.4 |
105.9 |
108.1 |
Apr 2017
|
108.4 |
108.4 |
105.9 |
108.1 |
May 2017
|
108.8 |
108.3 |
105.5 |
108.0 |
Jun 2017
|
108.1 |
108.1 |
106.0 |
108.1 |
Jul 2017
|
108.0 |
108.1 |
106.1 |
107.8 |
Aug 2017
|
107.8 |
108.4 |
106.2 |
108.0 |
Sep 2017
|
107.7 |
108.4 |
106.0 |
108.8 |
Oct 2017
|
107.6 |
108.7 |
105.6 |
107.5 |
Nov 2017
|
107.9 |
109.2 |
105.2 |
106.8 |
Dec 2017
|
108.0 |
109.5 |
104.6 |
107.4 |
Jan 2018
|
107.8 |
109.0 |
104.7 |
107.8 |
Feb 2018
|
107.6 |
109.2 |
105.1 |
107.9 |
Mar 2018
|
108.0 |
109.2 |
105.0 |
108.6 |
Apr 2018
|
107.8 |
109.1 |
105.1 |
108.7 |
May 2018
|
107.8 |
108.9 |
105.1 |
108.4 |
Jun 2018
|
107.9 |
108.8 |
104.4 |
108.5 |
Jul 2018
|
107.5 |
108.5 |
104.8 |
108.8 |
Aug 2018
|
107.9 |
108.2 |
105.7 |
108.9 |
Sep 2018
|
108.1 |
108.3 |
104.7 |
108.6 |
Oct 2018
|
107.9 |
108.8 |
104.3 |
108.0 |
Nov 2018
|
108.1 |
108.4 |
105.6 |
109.5 |
Dec 2018
|
108.1 |
108.6 |
104.4 |
110.1 |
Jan 2019
|
108.0 |
108.6 |
104.0 |
109.5 |
Feb 2019
|
106.9 |
108.0 |
103.3 |
109.3 |
Mar 2019
|
106.3 |
108.3 |
102.9 |
109.3 |
Apr 2019
|
106.7 |
108.1 |
102.6 |
109.1 |
May 2019
|
106.5 |
108.0 |
102.8 |
109.3 |
Jun 2019
|
106.4 |
107.8 |
102.7 |
109.0 |
Jul 2019
|
106.5 |
107.6 |
102.6 |
108.9 |
Aug 2019
|
106.6 |
107.4 |
102.4 |
108.2 |
Sep 2019
|
106.2 |
107.4 |
102.6 |
108.1 |
Oct 2019
|
107.4 |
106.8 |
102.7 |
107.8 |
Nov 2019
|
106.8 |
106.7 |
103.6 |
107.6 |
Dec 2019
|
107.1 |
107.3 |
103.8 |
107.0 |
Contracting industries
Electronics and appliance stores; clothing and clothing accessories stores; and sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores made up the group of retail industries that lost jobs between 2010 and 2019. Employment in clothing and clothing accessories stores shrank by 3 percent over the period, while employment in each of the other contracting industries declined by 6 percent. (See chart 5.)
Electronics and appliance stores experienced cyclical employment trends over the 10-year span, however the industry had employment declines over the last 4 years, resulting in a net loss of 29,000 jobs from December 2009 to December 2019. Employment in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores also showed cyclical changes, but lost 37,000 jobs through 2019, with more job losses occurring between 2018 and 2019. (See table 1.)
Table 1. Employment in selected industries, seasonally adjusted, December 2010 and 2019, in thousands
Industry |
December 2009 |
Dcember 2019 |
Change |
Percent change |
Total private
|
107,306 |
129,319 |
22,013 |
21 |
Retail trade
|
14,335 |
15,672 |
1,337 |
9 |
Motor vehicle and parts dealers
|
1,617 |
2,057 |
440 |
27 |
Furniture and home furnishings stores
|
439 |
470 |
32 |
7 |
Electronics and appliance stores
|
508 |
480 |
-29 |
-6 |
Building material and garden supply stores
|
1,138 |
1,306 |
168 |
15 |
Food and beverage stores
|
2,802 |
3,088 |
286 |
10 |
Health and personal care stores
|
983 |
1,056 |
73 |
7 |
Gasoline stations
|
819 |
952 |
133 |
16 |
Clothing and clothing accessories stores
|
1,333 |
1,287 |
-46 |
-3 |
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores
|
580 |
543 |
-37 |
-6 |
General merchandise stores
|
2,923 |
3,061 |
138 |
5 |
Miscellaneous store retailers
|
767 |
822 |
54 |
7 |
Nonstore retailers
|
427 |
552 |
125 |
29 |
Selected transportation and warehousing industries
|
|
Couriers and messengers
|
493 |
846 |
353 |
72 |
Warehousing and storage
|
629 |
1,192 |
563 |
90 |
Clothing and clothing accessories stores had a net job loss of 46,000 jobs between 2010 and 2019; and was less cyclical, compared with the other contracting industries. Clothing and clothing accessories stores showed little net change from 2010–16. Beginning in 2017, employment in this industry fell through 2019.
Chart 5. Employment in contracting industries, seasonally adjusted, January 2010–December 2019, January 2010=100
Year |
Electronics and appliance stores |
Clothing and clothing accessories stores |
Sporting good, hobby, book, and music stores |
Jan 2010
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Feb 2010
|
99.4 |
100.2 |
100.8 |
Mar 2010
|
99.9 |
100.8 |
99.6 |
Apr 2010
|
99.6 |
101.1 |
99.6 |
May 2010
|
99.9 |
100.6 |
99.1 |
Jun 2010
|
99.9 |
100.5 |
99.1 |
Jul 2010
|
100.1 |
100.1 |
98.7 |
Aug 2010
|
101.3 |
99.6 |
98.4 |
Sep 2010
|
102.3 |
99.5 |
99.0 |
Oct 2010
|
102.9 |
100.1 |
99.2 |
Nov 2010
|
103.0 |
99.2 |
99.7 |
Dec 2010
|
102.2 |
97.9 |
100.0 |
Jan 2011
|
102.0 |
99.4 |
99.5 |
Feb 2011
|
101.8 |
99.2 |
100.1 |
Mar 2011
|
102.2 |
99.1 |
99.7 |
Apr 2011
|
103.0 |
99.7 |
99.3 |
May 2011
|
103.1 |
99.9 |
99.1 |
Jun 2011
|
103.5 |
100.3 |
99.4 |
Jul 2011
|
103.5 |
100.1 |
100.4 |
Aug 2011
|
102.3 |
100.7 |
100.1 |
Sep 2011
|
101.0 |
101.8 |
100.4 |
Oct 2011
|
100.2 |
101.8 |
98.8 |
Nov 2011
|
100.2 |
101.7 |
98.0 |
Dec 2011
|
99.7 |
101.7 |
95.8 |
Jan 2012
|
99.4 |
101.3 |
96.1 |
Feb 2012
|
99.8 |
101.7 |
97.7 |
Mar 2012
|
99.4 |
102.0 |
99.2 |
Apr 2012
|
99.6 |
101.7 |
100.2 |
May 2012
|
98.6 |
101.9 |
101.1 |
Jun 2012
|
98.3 |
101.7 |
102.0 |
Jul 2012
|
98.1 |
101.5 |
101.5 |
Aug 2012
|
97.1 |
101.5 |
101.6 |
Sep 2012
|
96.5 |
103.0 |
101.1 |
Oct 2012
|
95.1 |
103.6 |
100.2 |
Nov 2012
|
97.9 |
106.0 |
100.1 |
Dec 2012
|
96.5 |
104.2 |
98.1 |
Jan 2013
|
98.1 |
103.9 |
101.1 |
Feb 2013
|
96.2 |
103.4 |
101.3 |
Mar 2013
|
94.6 |
102.6 |
101.2 |
Apr 2013
|
94.4 |
101.3 |
101.3 |
May 2013
|
94.7 |
101.8 |
101.7 |
Jun 2013
|
94.5 |
102.3 |
102.6 |
Jul 2013
|
94.6 |
102.3 |
103.4 |
Aug 2013
|
95.4 |
102.5 |
103.9 |
Sep 2013
|
96.0 |
102.0 |
104.5 |
Oct 2013
|
97.5 |
101.2 |
105.6 |
Nov 2013
|
98.0 |
100.9 |
106.3 |
Dec 2013
|
97.4 |
104.0 |
106.3 |
Jan 2014
|
97.6 |
102.1 |
104.9 |
Feb 2014
|
95.0 |
101.6 |
103.9 |
Mar 2014
|
94.5 |
101.3 |
104.9 |
Apr 2014
|
93.3 |
102.0 |
105.3 |
May 2014
|
93.4 |
101.7 |
105.6 |
Jun 2014
|
94.7 |
101.1 |
105.6 |
Jul 2014
|
95.2 |
101.0 |
105.2 |
Aug 2014
|
96.0 |
101.1 |
105.4 |
Sep 2014
|
97.1 |
100.0 |
106.9 |
Oct 2014
|
97.8 |
99.9 |
108.9 |
Nov 2014
|
98.3 |
101.2 |
108.5 |
Dec 2014
|
99.0 |
101.2 |
108.4 |
Jan 2015
|
99.5 |
99.8 |
108.7 |
Feb 2015
|
99.7 |
99.5 |
108.0 |
Mar 2015
|
100.0 |
99.6 |
107.9 |
Apr 2015
|
100.0 |
99.1 |
107.8 |
May 2015
|
100.4 |
99.7 |
107.1 |
Jun 2015
|
100.8 |
99.9 |
106.6 |
Jul 2015
|
101.1 |
99.9 |
107.0 |
Aug 2015
|
101.2 |
100.2 |
106.0 |
Sep 2015
|
102.1 |
99.3 |
106.2 |
Oct 2015
|
102.3 |
101.5 |
106.2 |
Nov 2015
|
102.3 |
101.1 |
107.4 |
Dec 2015
|
102.2 |
100.1 |
107.2 |
Jan 2016
|
102.6 |
100.1 |
108.2 |
Feb 2016
|
102.7 |
100.2 |
108.0 |
Mar 2016
|
101.8 |
99.8 |
108.0 |
Apr 2016
|
101.5 |
99.7 |
106.9 |
May 2016
|
101.2 |
99.7 |
106.8 |
Jun 2016
|
101.3 |
99.7 |
106.4 |
Jul 2016
|
101.2 |
100.4 |
106.3 |
Aug 2016
|
100.7 |
100.4 |
106.2 |
Sep 2016
|
100.3 |
101.1 |
105.6 |
Oct 2016
|
98.8 |
101.0 |
105.2 |
Nov 2016
|
98.7 |
100.1 |
105.7 |
Dec 2016
|
98.4 |
101.6 |
105.5 |
Jan 2017
|
99.7 |
102.8 |
104.1 |
Feb 2017
|
98.5 |
102.2 |
103.6 |
Mar 2017
|
99.1 |
102.3 |
103.1 |
Apr 2017
|
98.5 |
102.5 |
103.1 |
May 2017
|
97.8 |
101.9 |
103.0 |
Jun 2017
|
97.0 |
101.7 |
103.2 |
Jul 2017
|
96.5 |
100.9 |
103.5 |
Aug 2017
|
96.6 |
100.6 |
103.5 |
Sep 2017
|
95.7 |
100.3 |
103.6 |
Oct 2017
|
95.4 |
100.5 |
104.3 |
Nov 2017
|
95.2 |
99.6 |
106.6 |
Dec 2017
|
95.1 |
100.0 |
105.7 |
Jan 2018
|
95.2 |
100.1 |
100.6 |
Feb 2018
|
94.8 |
100.7 |
101.3 |
Mar 2018
|
95.3 |
100.8 |
101.4 |
Apr 2018
|
95.6 |
100.5 |
102.2 |
May 2018
|
95.7 |
101.0 |
102.9 |
Jun 2018
|
95.4 |
100.9 |
102.5 |
Jul 2018
|
95.9 |
101.2 |
96.6 |
Aug 2018
|
95.9 |
99.8 |
96.3 |
Sep 2018
|
94.8 |
99.7 |
96.1 |
Oct 2018
|
93.4 |
98.9 |
95.3 |
Nov 2018
|
92.0 |
98.9 |
92.9 |
Dec 2018
|
92.6 |
98.3 |
92.3 |
Jan 2019
|
92.1 |
98.3 |
94.2 |
Feb 2019
|
92.5 |
98.1 |
94.5 |
Mar 2019
|
92.4 |
97.6 |
95.2 |
Apr 2019
|
92.4 |
97.1 |
94.6 |
May 2019
|
92.2 |
96.1 |
94.0 |
Jun 2019
|
92.1 |
95.8 |
94.3 |
Jul 2019
|
91.3 |
95.6 |
94.5 |
Aug 2019
|
91.0 |
95.4 |
95.4 |
Sep 2019
|
91.2 |
94.6 |
95.2 |
Oct 2019
|
92.4 |
94.2 |
94.5 |
Nov 2019
|
92.8 |
92.1 |
93.0 |
Dec 2019
|
92.6 |
94.9 |
93.2 |
From 2017 to 2019, more than 23,000 U.S. retail store closures were announced.3 In 2019, announced store closures peaked at 9,832, representing an increase of 68 percent from 2018. (See table 2.) In fact, the majority of these announcements were made by retailers in the negative- and slow-growth industries.
Table 2. Announced U.S. retail store closures, 2017–19
Year |
Closures announced |
2017
|
8,000 |
2018
|
5,844 |
2019
|
9,832 |
Parallels of retail trade and retail sales
The retail trade industry is consumption driven and, in principle, when consumer demand or retail sales increase, employers are likely to hire more workforce to accommodate increased demand. From 2010 to 2019, retail sales and employment in retail trade rose by 49 percent and 9 percent, respectively. The correlation between the two variables was strong.4 That is, as retail sales increased, employment increased, and when retail sales decreased, employment decreased as well. The correlation broke down in 2017 when retail sales continued to trend up, while employment started to trend down. (See chart 6.) Trends in e-commerce provide some insight on this divergence. E-commerce sales increased substantially as a share of total retail sales, from 4.2 percent in the first quarter of 2010 to 11.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019.5
Chart 6. Employment in retail trade and advanced monthly retail sales, seasonally adjusted, January 2010–December 2019
Date |
Advanced monthly retail sales, in millions |
Retail trade employment, in thousands |
Jan 2010
|
308,529 |
14,401 |
Feb 2010
|
308,520 |
14,397 |
Mar 2010
|
316,269 |
14,447 |
Apr 2010
|
318,612 |
14,427 |
May 2010
|
315,356 |
14,439 |
Jun 2010
|
315,250 |
14,442 |
Jul 2010
|
315,546 |
14,449 |
Aug 2010
|
317,345 |
14,454 |
Sep 2010
|
319,914 |
14,478 |
Oct 2010
|
324,043 |
14,511 |
Nov 2010
|
327,635 |
14,486 |
Dec 2010
|
329,741 |
14,474 |
Jan 2011
|
332,140 |
14,537 |
Feb 2011
|
334,674 |
14,558 |
Mar 2011
|
337,935 |
14,589 |
Apr 2011
|
340,149 |
14,646 |
May 2011
|
339,232 |
14,646 |
Jun 2011
|
341,657 |
14,682 |
Jul 2011
|
341,274 |
14,725 |
Aug 2011
|
342,228 |
14,719 |
Sep 2011
|
345,696 |
14,744 |
Oct 2011
|
347,717 |
14,750 |
Nov 2011
|
349,352 |
14,755 |
Dec 2011
|
349,973 |
14,747 |
Jan 2012
|
352,610 |
14,817 |
Feb 2012
|
357,233 |
14,795 |
Mar 2012
|
358,862 |
14,826 |
Apr 2012
|
356,550 |
14,838 |
May 2012
|
356,050 |
14,834 |
Jun 2012
|
352,556 |
14,818 |
Jul 2012
|
353,782 |
14,812 |
Aug 2012
|
358,397 |
14,817 |
Sep 2012
|
361,281 |
14,854 |
Oct 2012
|
362,129 |
14,869 |
Nov 2012
|
363,013 |
14,945 |
Dec 2012
|
364,299 |
14,914 |
Jan 2013
|
367,100 |
14,936 |
Feb 2013
|
372,389 |
14,951 |
Mar 2013
|
369,175 |
14,949 |
Apr 2013
|
367,557 |
14,968 |
May 2013
|
369,337 |
15,002 |
Jun 2013
|
370,962 |
15,049 |
Jul 2013
|
373,426 |
15,090 |
Aug 2013
|
372,414 |
15,130 |
Sep 2013
|
372,091 |
15,163 |
Oct 2013
|
373,352 |
15,196 |
Nov 2013
|
373,819 |
15,212 |
Dec 2013
|
376,575 |
15,288 |
Jan 2014
|
372,607 |
15,263 |
Feb 2014
|
378,256 |
15,244 |
Mar 2014
|
382,077 |
15,248 |
Apr 2014
|
386,506 |
15,303 |
May 2014
|
386,815 |
15,323 |
Jun 2014
|
387,726 |
15,352 |
Jul 2014
|
388,072 |
15,375 |
Aug 2014
|
391,304 |
15,386 |
Sep 2014
|
389,778 |
15,419 |
Oct 2014
|
390,348 |
15,470 |
Nov 2014
|
391,679 |
15,503 |
Dec 2014
|
388,421 |
15,511 |
Jan 2015
|
385,466 |
15,520 |
Feb 2015
|
384,793 |
15,535 |
Mar 2015
|
390,948 |
15,548 |
Apr 2015
|
390,986 |
15,567 |
May 2015
|
394,518 |
15,596 |
Jun 2015
|
395,115 |
15,619 |
Jul 2015
|
397,720 |
15,639 |
Aug 2015
|
397,585 |
15,638 |
Sep 2015
|
396,353 |
15,643 |
Oct 2015
|
394,715 |
15,675 |
Nov 2015
|
396,257 |
15,695 |
Dec 2015
|
397,123 |
15,699 |
Jan 2016
|
395,210 |
15,725 |
Feb 2016
|
398,293 |
15,772 |
Mar 2016
|
397,196 |
15,810 |
Apr 2016
|
398,813 |
15,814 |
May 2016
|
400,435 |
15,813 |
Jun 2016
|
404,859 |
15,844 |
Jul 2016
|
404,315 |
15,859 |
Aug 2016
|
404,345 |
15,877 |
Sep 2016
|
406,628 |
15,885 |
Oct 2016
|
407,991 |
15,888 |
Nov 2016
|
406,761 |
15,862 |
Dec 2016
|
412,753 |
15,892 |
Jan 2017
|
416,600 |
15,920 |
Feb 2017
|
416,224 |
15,880 |
Mar 2017
|
415,464 |
15,862 |
Apr 2017
|
418,010 |
15,854 |
May 2017
|
415,879 |
15,825 |
Jun 2017
|
417,639 |
15,831 |
Jul 2017
|
417,908 |
15,823 |
Aug 2017
|
418,181 |
15,823 |
Sep 2017
|
428,218 |
15,815 |
Oct 2017
|
428,529 |
15,811 |
Nov 2017
|
431,841 |
15,816 |
Dec 2017
|
433,877 |
15,802 |
Jan 2018
|
433,198 |
15,786 |
Feb 2018
|
435,033 |
15,821 |
Mar 2018
|
434,510 |
15,833 |
Apr 2018
|
436,423 |
15,832 |
May 2018
|
441,536 |
15,836 |
Jun 2018
|
439,651 |
15,798 |
Jul 2018
|
441,541 |
15,785 |
Aug 2018
|
440,241 |
15,788 |
Sep 2018
|
441,029 |
15,742 |
Oct 2018
|
446,238 |
15,703 |
Nov 2018
|
446,894 |
15,730 |
Dec 2018
|
435,953 |
15,704 |
Jan 2019
|
443,420 |
15,697 |
Feb 2019
|
442,467 |
15,667 |
Mar 2019
|
449,925 |
15,643 |
Apr 2019
|
452,220 |
15,631 |
May 2019
|
453,522 |
15,619 |
Jun 2019
|
454,847 |
15,613 |
Jul 2019
|
457,485 |
15,614 |
Aug 2019
|
459,938 |
15,614 |
Sep 2019
|
457,277 |
15,623 |
Oct 2019
|
459,978 |
15,645 |
Nov 2019
|
460,760 |
15,631 |
Dec 2019
|
460,512 |
15,672 |
Interplay of e-commerce sales and employment in retail trade
The shopping habits of U.S. consumers have changed over time, as the share of e-commerce sales have permeated most retail trade industries. The relentless growth of e-commerce sales affects individual retail trade industries differently, and, therefore, affects employment trends by industry differently.
Quarterly e-commerce sales and retail trade employment rose from the first quarter of 2010 through the first quarter of 2017—when employment peaked. Thereafter, employment trended down through 2019, while e-commerce sales continued to gain shares of total retail sales. (See chart 7.) The diversion of the two series coincided with a period in which thousands of brick-and-mortar retailers closed some or almost all of their locations.
Chart 7. Quarterly average retail trade employment and quarterly e-commerce sales, seasonally adjusted, 2010–19
Period |
Quarterly average employment |
Quarterly e-commerce sales |
Q1 2010
|
14,415 |
39,289 |
Q2 2010
|
14,436 |
41,303 |
Q3 2010
|
14,461 |
43,474 |
Q4 2010
|
14,490 |
45,075 |
Q1 2011
|
14,562 |
47,020 |
Q2 2011
|
14,658 |
48,815 |
Q3 2011
|
14,730 |
50,140 |
Q4 2011
|
14,750 |
53,123 |
Q1 2012
|
14,813 |
55,144 |
Q2 2012
|
14,830 |
56,363 |
Q3 2012
|
14,828 |
58,449 |
Q4 2012
|
14,909 |
60,815 |
Q1 2013
|
14,946 |
62,458 |
Q2 2013
|
15,006 |
64,383 |
Q3 2013
|
15,127 |
66,457 |
Q4 2013
|
15,232 |
69,005 |
Q1 2014
|
15,252 |
71,108 |
Q2 2014
|
15,326 |
74,290 |
Q3 2014
|
15,393 |
76,943 |
Q4 2014
|
15,494 |
79,024 |
Q1 2015
|
15,534 |
81,837 |
Q2 2015
|
15,594 |
84,704 |
Q3 2015
|
15,640 |
87,754 |
Q4 2015
|
15,690 |
90,687 |
Q1 2016
|
15,769 |
94,057 |
Q2 2016
|
15,823 |
97,459 |
Q3 2016
|
15,874 |
100,519 |
Q4 2016
|
15,881 |
103,952 |
Q1 2017
|
15,888 |
108,157 |
Q2 2017
|
15,837 |
112,644 |
Q3 2017
|
15,820 |
115,419 |
Q4 2017
|
15,810 |
121,019 |
Q1 2018
|
15,813 |
124,936 |
Q2 2018
|
15,822 |
128,616 |
Q3 2018
|
15,772 |
130,625 |
Q4 2018
|
15,712 |
134,291 |
Q1 2019
|
15,669 |
139,713 |
Q2 2019
|
15,621 |
146,348 |
Q3 2019
|
15,617 |
153,274 |
Q4 2019
|
15,649 |
156,581 |
In 2018, e-commerce sales (part of the strong-growth industry group) were particularly notable as they represented 65 percent of total nonstore retail sales. This is an unsurprising result, as electronic shopping and mail-order houses accounted for 68 percent of jobs in the nonstore retail industry in 2019. Also, e-commerce sales accounted for 3 percent of 2018 sales of motor vehicle and parts dealers, due in part to e-sales occurring within automotive manufacturers, dealerships, and other digital car sellers.6 E-commerce sales made up 2 percent to 4 percent of all sales in the contracting industries. (See table 3.)
Table 3. Annual estimated retail trade sales in select industries, seasonnally adjusted, in millions of dollars, 2018
Industry |
2018 |
E-commerce as percent of total |
Total |
E-commerce |
Total retail trade
|
5,269,468 |
519,635 |
9.9 |
Motor vehicle and parts dealers
|
1,191,321 |
35,348 |
3.0 |
Furniture and home furnishings stores
|
116,895 |
1,533 |
1.3 |
Electronics and appliance stores
|
100,205 |
2,056 |
2.1 |
Building material and garden supply stores
|
381,313 |
2,795 |
0.7 |
Food and beverage stores
|
745,736 |
4,837 |
0.6 |
Health and personal care stores
|
347,454 |
744 |
0.2 |
Clothing and clothing accessories stores
|
268,163 |
10,981 |
4.1 |
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores
|
81,179 |
2,617 |
3.2 |
Nonstore retailers
|
696,849 |
453,584 |
65.1 |
Summary
Differences in employment growth by the retail industry over the 2010–19 period reflect a changing retail paradigm. As retail sales shift from traditional storefronts to e-commerce, employment grew in the strong-growth and medium-growth industries—motor vehicle and parts dealers; nonstore retailers; building material and garden supply stores; food and beverage stores; and gasoline stations. However, sluggish growth and protracted employment declines occurred in the slow-growth and contracting industries, respectively.
This Beyond the Numbers article was prepared by Osman Alhassan, economist, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Telephone: (202) 691-5286. Email: Alhassan.Osman@bls.gov.
Information in this article will be made available upon request to individuals with sensory impairments. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200. Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339. This article is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission.