APED presents retail employment and future of work study in Lisbon

The Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) presented a study regarding the future of work and employment within the retail sector. The research, conducted by Forvis Mazars, utilized data from 24 member companies that account for 72% of jobs in food and non-food retail.

Key findings indicate that the retail sector represents approximately 14% of total employment in Portugal, meaning one in seven workers is employed in this field. As of 2025, large retail companies employed over 155,000 workers. The workforce is notably diverse in age, with 28% aged 30-39 and 24% aged 40-49, while workers under 24 represent 17% of the analyzed companies' workforce.

Demographically, women hold 63% of positions and 53% of leadership roles. The study also noted an increase in permanent contracts, rising from 80% to 85% between 2020 and 2025. Additionally, investment in training and qualification has grown significantly, increasing from 25 million to 41 million euros.