According to Department of Labor data released yesterday, the retail industry added nearly 50,000 jobs in November, the second highest increase since September 2007.
However, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) warned that new regulations could impede the continued pace of job growth.
The Department of Labor figures show that the retail industry added 49,800 jobs in November, raising the total of US retail jobs to 14.7 million. The retail industry has added nearly 200,000 new jobs this year alone, averaging 14,000 new jobs each month.
“Strong job growth in the retail industry is proof positive that the consumer is back,” said RILA president Sandy Kennedy.
“As consumers gain confidence and open their wallets once again, the retail industry is poised to grow. The actions taken by retailers over the past four years to strengthen their operations and attract new customers position it well to thrive as the economy continues to recover,” said Kennedy.
“November’s retail job gains are terrific, but policymakers must not take it for granted that continued growth is a given,” added Kennedy. “Regulatory challenges, particularly those emerging from the National Labor Relations Board, could easily replace economic challenges as the greatest impediment to job creation, which would undermine the industry’s ability to regain jobs lost during the recession.”
