British Retail Consortium urges protection of flexible youth employment

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is urging the UK government to reconsider upcoming employment reforms to protect flexible, entry-level roles. New polling by Opinium shows that 80% of UK adults believe part-time work, including traditional Saturday jobs, is a vital pathway for young people to enter the workforce. Support for these roles is even higher among those aged 55 and over, at 91%.

Retail and its supply chain currently account for approximately 23% of all youth employment, with roughly 780,000 jobs held by individuals aged 16 to 25. Over half of these employees work part-time. However, the sector has seen a decline of nearly 400,000 jobs over the last decade.

The BRC expressed concern that the Guaranteed Hours provisions within the Employment Rights Act could increase financial pressures on retailers. These pressures follow £6.5 billion in additional employment costs incurred over the last two years due to increases in the National Living Wage and employer National Insurance Contributions. The BRC argues that the proposed reforms may make it more difficult for businesses to manage fluctuating staffing needs and maintain flexible opportunities for young workers.