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Survey finds negative attitudes to retail careers from parents and careers advisors

As thousands of school-leavers get their exam results and make career choices, a Skillsmart Retail survey suggests that the negative attitudes of parents and careers advisors towards the retail industry are discouraging young people seeking a career in retail.

Although 49% of parents said the retail industry offered top quality training and career development, 71% of parents with children aged 12-19 thought a career in retail was 'unattractive'.

Similarly, the survey found that only 9% of careers advisors thought the retail sector the best to work in, yet 85% said that the sector fosters the development of skills relevant in any workplace, providing an ideal first job for young school-leavers.

Anne Seaman, Skillsmart Retail's chief operating officer, said: "To continue to employ its current high proportion of young people aged 16 to 24 the retail sector will need to recruit over 300,000 in that age group over the next 3 years. We urge parents and careers advisors to recognise the benefits of a career in retail and support youngsters seeking to move into the sector."

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