The Retail industry is a fast-growing and ever-changing one.

• It is the largest employer of staff in the private sector in the UK.
• There are nearly 297,000 retail jobs - about thirteen per cent of all Scottish jobs.
• Around 43,000 of these are employed in the retail motor industry.
• The retail industry is a universal business that can be found in all parts of Scotland.

Areas Included

The retail industry involves the selling of goods and services to us, the general public.

• Some shops focus on one product but others such as supermarkets and department stores sell a wide range of products and services.
• The retail motor industry focuses on the sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.
• The two main types of jobs in the industry are sales and customer services staff – about 60% of all jobs.
• More than one in four of all jobs in the retail motor industry are skilled trades jobs, such as motor mechanic.

For a full list of jobs in the retail industry see below.

What’s It like working in the Retail Industry?

• This industry will appeal most to those interested in working with people and providing a service. People who work in retail need to be friendly and helpful.
• Most jobs are part-time.
• In contrast the majority of jobs in the motor industry are full time.
• Females account for around 3 out of every 5 jobs.
• In the motor industry, only 1 in every 4 jobs is female.
• The average age of a worker is 35. This is due to the large number of 16-24 year olds in the workforce.
• Job prospects for school leavers in the retail industry are good. More than a third of employers have recruited a school leaver in the last two to three years.