GET READY TO RING UP NEW JOB
It’s a good time to start shopping around, Cara Jenkin discovers
JOBSEEKERS looking to get a job in retail need to prime themselves for the first of two peak recruitment periods when job advertisements spike for the year. SEEK data shows an influx of job advertisements occurs every November/December as employers finalise their workforces to cope with demand in the Christmas shopping rush.
However, winter is the other peak time for job advertisements in the retail industry to be placed, as many employers start to recruit their Christmas casual workforce, and existing staff such as university graduates leave their retail jobs for fulltime work in other fields.
SEEK finds the peak is occurring earlier each year.
In 2016, September was the peak month in which job advertisements were placed, with growth occurring each month from July.
In 2018, June had the highest number of retail advertisements.
SEEK Australia and New Zealand sales and service director Stephen Tuffley says jobseekers should be prepared to take advantage of the increased opportunities.
“Each year on SEEK we see spikes across the retail sector in certain times of the year, obviously Christmas is one of them, and the second is in June/July each year where there are more jobs available in retail,” he says.
“Retail is going through a tough time at the moment but if the last few years are anything to go by, we will see jobs increase in June and July again this year.
“If you are looking for a role within retail I’d recommend that you update your SEEK profile so when those jobs do come up you are seen by employers and in the best place to be successful.”
Retail is the nation’s second largest employing industry after healthcare, with 1.3 million people employed.
The most common occupations are sales assistants, retail managers, checkout operators, shelf fillers and pharmacy sales assistants.
Clothing and department stores are top of mind as potential workplaces, however, IBISWorld reports many more types of retail outlets provide jobs, including grocery and convenience stores, petrol stations, car yards, hardware stores and pharmacies.
The Australian Jobs report 2018 finds 51 per cent of workers are aged 15 to 34, while 12 per cent of all retail workers also are studying for a qualification at university.