UK DIY News
2021 Retail Job Losses And Store Closures
The Centre for Retail Research has published data highlighting the retail job losses and store closures which took place in 2021 - a year which saw coronavirus lockdowns; national and local restrictions; working from home; mandatory wearing of face masks in stores; supply chain issues and much more, all of which compounded existing problems within the sector.
2021 job losses reached 89,324, with store closures of 11,047, according to the data, compared with 182,564 and 16,045 respectively in 2020. In 2018, job losses reached 117,425, while store closures reached 14,583.
All data tables are from the Centre for Retail Research.
Outcomes for 2021
Retailing 2021 (full year) | Administration | CVAs | Rationalisation | Totals |
| specific redundancies & rationalisation | NA | NA | 9,118 | 9,118 |
| multiples: stores closed | 1,172 | 132 | 942 | 2,441 |
| multiples: jobs lost` | 18,453 | 1,154 | 40,843 | 60,450 |
| self-employed/concessions in larger shops | 3,873 | 19 | 3,982 | 7,874 |
| independent store closures | 3,760 | 5,041 | 8,801 | |
| independent job losses | 11,882 | 14,019 | 25,901 | |
| Total Job losses | 34,208 | 1,173 | 53,943 | 89,324 |
| Total store closures | 4,932 | 132 | 5,983 | 11,047 |
* based on our current information.
Outcomes for 2020 (to 31 December).
Retailing 2020 | Administration | CVAs | Rationalisation | Totals |
| specific redundancies & rationalisation | NA | NA | 14,755 | 14,755 |
| multiples: stores closed | 2041 | 533 | 2,975 | 5,549 |
| multiples: jobs lost | 53,364 | 11,496 | 44,521 | 109,381 |
| self-employed/concessions in larger shops | 8,715 | 490 | 8,240 | 17,445 |
| independent store closures | 4,189 | - | 6,307 | 10,496 |
| independent job losses | 12,286 | - | 28,697 | 40,983 |
| Total Job losses | 74,365 | 11,986 | 96,213 | 182,564 |
| Total store closures | 6,230 | 533 | 9,282 | 16,045 |
* Correct to 31 December 2020.
Outcomes for 2019 (12 months)
| Retailing 2019 | Administration | CVAs | Rationalisation | Totals |
specific redundancies & rationalisation | NA | NA | 9,593 | 9,593 |
multiples: stores closed | 684 | 313 | 4,404 | 5,901 |
| multiples: jobs lost | 9,060 | 24,042 | 43,164 | 72,266 |
| self-employed/concessions in larger shops | 5,873 | 2,420 | 5,991 | 14,284 |
| independent store closures | 5,720 | - | 4,452 | 10,172 |
| independent job losses | 23,171 | - | 19,816 | 42,985 |
| Total Job losses | 38,103 | 26,462 | 78,563 | 143,128 |
| Total store closures | 6,404 | 313 | 9,356 | 16,073 |
Outcomes for 2018 (12 months)
| Retailing 2018 | Administration | CVAs | Rationalisation | Totals |
specific redundancies & rationalisation | NA | NA | 19,112 | 19,112 |
multiples: stores closed | 1,631 | 272 | 1,400 | 3,303 |
multiples: jobs lost (store closure) | 22,671 | 3,900 | 11,862 | 38,433 |
self-employed/concessions in larger shops | 1,300 | 2,200 | 1,350 | 4,850 |
independent closures | 9,820 | 1,460 | 11,280 | |
independent job losses | 48,314 | 6,716 | 55,030 | |
Total job losses | 72,285 | 6,100 | 39,040 | 117,425 |
Total store closures | 11,451 | 272 | 2,860 | 14,583 |
Read the full analysis from the Centre for Retail Research.
Source : Insight DIY using Centre for Retail Research data
Thank you for the excellent presentation that you gave at Woodbury Park on Thursday morning. It was very interesting and thought-provoking for our Retail members. The feedback has been excellent.
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