New NRF research shows that a majority of Americans have worked in retail at some point and that the industry provides many workers with their first job.
The survey found 59 percent of those polled had worked in retail, including stores and restaurants. That slightly tops the 56 percent who had worked in offices and is double the 29 percent who had worked in a factory or warehouse. Of those surveyed, 32 percent found their first job in retail, at an average age of 16.
The new survey data provides the latest evidence of retail’s importance both as a source of entry-level jobs and long-term career opportunities. Other recent NRF research has shown that retail jobs pay wages competitive with similar positions in other industries, that most retail workers are happy in their jobs and that hiring managers throughout the economy value retail experience when evaluating job applicants. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, supporting 42 million people in one out of four U.S. jobs.
