How to attract and retain retail talent

Not only is there concern caused by the Brexit talent shortage, leaders across retail are actively looking to grow their workforce. To achieve growth in a competitive market, retailers must look closely at their hiring and onboarding processes and how they go about developing their workforce.

Here we will look at some of the ways retailers can address their challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining the right people for the job.

The challenges

An eye-opening report from retail charity, The Retail Trust, has found that a fifth of retail workers and a third of people working for the UK’s biggest retailers want to leave.¹ This puts retail leaders who want to grow their businesses and the size of their workforce in a conundrum.

The report found that workers aged between 16 and 29 were the unhappiest, suggesting that younger employees are less likely to build and develop a career in the industry. The study that surveyed more than 1,500 retail staff also found that managers feel ill-equipped to support their teams.

Rethinking processes

To address these challenges, retailers are set to further rely on technology moving forward. Adding more employee benefits to contracts and implementing and improving in-store technology are also key changes that retailers hope will reduce turnover and attract new talent to the industry.

Improving onboarding

When it comes to onboarding new employees there needs to be a shift in how knowledge is shared. Starting a new position is an exciting experience, but it can often be overwhelming because of the amount of new information that needs to be processed.

When someone new joins the team, how do retailers demonstrate what they need to do in their role without putting them in a potentially uncomfortable or awkward situation? Training must be relevant and should provide information and skills people can apply to their day-to-day work activities. If someone isn’t onboarded in the right way, they’re more likely to leave the business.

According to a survey from management consultancy Korn Ferry, part-time hourly store employees had an average 81% turnover rate in 2018², marking the highest percentage of any retail position.

Prioritizing well-being in the workplace

The Retail Trust’s comprehensive study found that 40% of retailers don’t have a well-being strategy in place. From exhaustion and staff abuse to worries around the cost-of-living crisis, it’s not surprising that retail employees have a lot on their minds.