Retail recruiting drive leads the way in new jobs

Britain's shops generated more jobs proportionately than any other part of the economy during the recession, according to industry figures published today.

The sector now employs 2.9 million people, after more than 22,000 jobs were created in the past year, the British Retail Consortium-Bond Pearce Retail Employment Monitor shows.

The figures show the rate of full-time equivalent employment in retail rose 3.6% in the three months to July of this year compared to last, partly due to a 3% increase in new store openings.

BRC's director-general Stephen Robertson told Retail Week: "With unemployment at 2.5 million and public sector cuts to come, it's encouraging retail is creating jobs."