Retail Jobs Up and Down Across the Country

If you’ve ever empathized with a bumper sticker that read, “Hell doesn’t scare me; I work in retail,” or something similar, you know how difficult the retail industry can be. From petty customer complaints to a competitive job market to being treated like a thief (I know some friends who have to be searched upon leaving their job at certain clothing stores, for example—and many positions are constantly on camera), it’s not the most fun a person could have outside the dentist’s office.

But many people do enjoy working in retail; in fact, some are very good at their job. I’m friends with several people who work in the retail industry, and some of them are known for brightening their patrons’ day with their cheerful attitudes, helpful demeanors, and ever-present smiles. Me? I couldn’t do it, and I bow down to these patient people.

Despite often high-turnover rates and an abundance of applicants, retail jobs are fluctuating across the country. Everywhere you look, there are either less and less opportunities for both teens hoping to make some extra income for a new car or insurance as well as adults hoping to make a career in customer service—or areas buoyed by the retail market alone. What gives?

The obvious answer might be that places with plenty of retail jobs simply have more people with the means to wield their purchasing power, but that may not be the source. In cities like San Diego, the retail sector continues to suffer while unemployment recedes and more buyers attain jobs in other fields. 1,600 retail jobs were just lost in the city, after all; Louisiana has taken a retail hit as well, and Omaha has lost at least 1,000 retail jobs due to seasonal employment. If unemployment is going down, why the big job loss?

Some claim that it’s the rising minimum wage that’s threatening retail workers; stores forced to pay higher wages say they cannot afford to keep more workers on for a higher price.

That said, other areas are, if not thriving, recovering in the retail department. Buffalo has seen more than a 3% increase in retail jobs over the past twelve months, and Pocatello is expected to have plenty of retail jobs—as well as food service positions—available either now or soon. If you’re in the retail business, your available opportunities seem to depend on where you live.