One in 11 workers has a job in ‘struggling’ retail sector
jobs in the city in 2018 – the most recent period with available data.
That means meant retail made up nine percent of all employment in the area two years ago – with 2,200 jobs based in the area's main shopping areas.
Despite the struggles faced by retail businesses before the pandemic, Sunderland saw a rise in retail employment between 2015 and 2018, with the number of jobs rising by one per cent.
It was a different picture across the rest of Great Britain, where two-thirds of local authorities saw retail job losses over the three years.
Shops have been battling the rise of online shopping, with the decline of physical shopping in high streets fuelled by the closure of stores during lockdown.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said although there was a growth in retail sales over June and July as businesses reopened following lockdown, many shops "continue to struggle" with a decline in footfall, with many people still reluctant to head to the shops.
She said: "While the rise in sales is a step in the right direction, the industry is still trying to catch up lost ground, with most shops having suffered months of closures.
"The fragile economic situation continues to bear down on consumer confidence, with some retailers hanging by only a thread in the face of rising costs and lower sales."
A Government spokesperson said: “We understand the challenges faced by the hospitality industry and the high street.
"That’s why we’ve taken unprecedented and targeted action with our Plan for Jobs to support people and businesses through the pandemic."