The Value of a Retail Career

The Value of a Retail Career (March, 2024)

From the East Coast to the West Coast, cities to suburbs, Americans are engaging with the retail industry on a nearly daily basis. The retail industry powers the economy as the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 55 million working Americans. Retail is a growing industry where talent of all types and from all parts of the U.S. can start, build and accelerate a rewarding career. Still, misconceptions and assumptions remain about the opportunities and value associated with building a career in retail.  

This research study shows:  

  • The availability and value of a retail career relative to other industries  

  • The speed of career progression and earning potential through a career in retail  

  • The most common, valuable and growing-in-demand skills one can gain through a career in retail  

  • The potential career paths available to retail talent

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