Retail
Part-time vs. Full-time
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey and 2002-2012 Employment Projections)
- Of the 15,187,000 total workers employed in the retail trade in 2003, 11,201,000 work full-time (73.8%), while 3,986,000 work part-time (26.2%).
- Sales and related occupations accounted for 65% of workers at clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores.
- Office and administrative support occupations make up the next largest group of employees, accounting for 18% of total employment in the industry.
- Cashiers make up the largest occupation in grocery stores, accounting for about one-third of all workers.
- Stock clerks and order fillers are the second largest occupation in grocery stores, accounting for 17% of workers.
Skill Sets
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004-05 Career Guide to Industries)
- Larger retailers prefer employees with a high school education.
- While on-the-job-training at smaller stores is generally brief and performed directly by the manager, larger establishments can offer structured training sessions that may last several days.
- College graduates will fill most new management positions. Employers increasingly seek graduates of college and university, junior and community college, and technical institute programs in food marketing, food management, and supermarket management.
