The sharp drop in the number of people employed between July and September represented a 2.8% drop in jobs compared to the same period a year ago – and marked the 15th consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline in the industry’s workforce.

The latest BRC employment figures revealed that the number of people in full-time employment across the industry dropped 4.5%, while the number of part-time workers slipped 1.5%. 

Total retail hours also fell 2.6% year-on-year, with full-time hours taking a 3.2% hit, compared to a 2% reduction in part-time hours.