Retail and Distribution

The sector has been one of the key drivers of employment growth in the Region over the last two decades, with significant growth expected to continue over the next ten years. Over the period 2002-2012, net employment growth is expected to increase at more than twice the rate projected for total employment in the Region, with a projected net increase of 9% over this period;

The Bullring, together with a number of other recent developments in other parts of the Region have transformed the regions retail offer. The challenge over the forthcoming years will be to try and ensure that the growth in employment that has been experienced in the Region is sustainable, employers can recruit the appropriate calibre of staff and the potential impact of displacement effects are mitigated;

The sector is characterised by a considerably younger age profile than the average for all sectors and a much lower proportion of those with higher level qualifications, although this profile broadly reflects patterns in the sector in England and Wales. An above average proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic employees is also evident;

Part time work is particularly commonplace, with almost a third of those working in the sector employed on a part time basis, by comparison with 22% for all sectors in the Region;

Jobs in the sector are predominantly in sales/customer service and lower skilled occupations.