NC Retail Merchants Association Joins National Effort to Emphasize the Value of Retail Jobs

RALEIGH, N.C. - Oct. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Raleigh, NC (October 16, 2014) –A national effort is underway to set the record straight about retail jobs.  Retail employment provides foundation training for a large portion of the workforce, setting workers on a path towards successful careers.  It’s one of the many reasons why the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) is  promoting a national campaign to emphasize the real value of retail.

“The retail sector has played a central role in creating much-needed jobs and helping the U.S. economy climb out of a recession,” said NCRMA President and General Counsel Andy Ellen.  “But many discount the value of retail’s role in offering fulfilling and rewarding careers for North Carolinians.  We join the National Retail Federation in asking all lawmakers to recognize what retail offers and pursue policies that foster growth in this service sector.”

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has named this week Retail Jobs Week (October 13-17), a multi-faceted effort to push back against long-held misconceptions about working in the retail industry. Through this initiative, organizers hope to recognize the real value retail delivers workers and the economy, and there are many reasons to support it.

Careers in retail are as financially rewarding as careers in any other industry.  Retail offers workers opportunities that many other industries cannot from flexibility to work while pursuing a degree to supplementing one’s income part-time or seasonally.  In addition, retail provides an opportunity to gain vital skills for success, with a clear path for advancement from starting positions to management and executive ranks.

“Misconceptions have long existed about retail and the jobs our industry provides,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “We are asking elected officials to join us and stand up for the millions of people who make this industry great.  We are proud of their work and the value it brings to our daily lives.”

Unfortunately, lingering false stereotypes about retail wages and skills undermine the value of retail employment in the minds of lawmakers.  NCRMA recognizes the power of retail and asks decision-makers to recall its current campaign This is Retail, NC (http://www.thisisretailnc.org/), which highlights the variety of careers retail offers, the way it supports the community and the many unique ways it drives innovation.

“Retail jobs provide North Carolina’s workforce with skills that are vital for success in today’s service economy,” Ellen said. “And retail offers opportunities other industries do not.  Retail employees have the flexibility to supplement family income while the kids are in school, or to pursue a degree. Retail provides jobs, and we agree that it deserves bipartisan support.”

Retail is the largest private sector employer in this country, supporting 42 million jobs and adding $2.6 trillion to the national economy.  In North Carolina, one in four jobs is supported by retail, providing an estimated 1.2 million jobs.  Retail’s total impact on North Carolina’s GDP is 18%.

Key Facts about Retail:

·Retail is the #1 private-sector employer in the United States, supporting one out of every four jobs in North Carolina.

·Retail directly and indirectly generates 17% of labor income in North Carolina

·Retail impacts $2.59 trillion of the U.S. GDP and supports $1.58 trillion in wages and benefits, 16 percent of the nation’s total in 2012.

·Close to 19 million jobs in retail are not on the sales room floor.  The industry directly provides more than 60,000 jobs for software developers and programmers, almost 73,000 jobs for security guards, 103,000 jobs in advertising, marketing, PR and sales management, and over 143,000 jobs for arts and design workers.

·Retail indirectly supports highly-desirable careers. Retail supports more than 253,000 jobs for software developers, programmers and administrators; almost 245,000 jobs for security guards; 176,000 jobs in advertising, marketing and PR; and over 203,000 jobs for arts and design workers.

·Retail jobs pay wages highly competitive with other sectors:  Retail workers earn an average of $2,582 per month compared to $2,667 for non-retail workers with similar levels of job skills and experience.

·Experienced retail workers earn more than their peers in other industries:  Full-time retail workers between the ages of 25 and 54 make an average of $3,198 per month, slightly higher than the $3,164 earned by non-retail workers.

·Most retail businesses are small businesses. 98.6% of all retail companies employ less than 50 people.

·95 percent of all retailers operate just one location: The overwhelming majority of retailers are small businesses, with more than 95% operating a single location.

About the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association

The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) is a nonprofit trade association organized in 1902 to improve the business climate for retailers in North Carolina.  Over 100 years later, NCRMA remains the voice of the retail industry for North Carolina.  NCRMA represents the interests of individual merchants before the General Assembly and serves as a vital link to state government.  Its credibility lies in its longevity and commitment to serving the ever-changing needs of its members.  The Association’s membership includes more than 25,000 stores from across the state whose business represents 75 percent of North Carolina’s retail sales volume.  NCRMA serves both large and small retailers from multi-state chains to local “mom and pops,” and all types of merchants including antique, apparel, art, automotive, book, carpet, department, drug, electronics, floral, furniture, grocery, hardware, jewelry, paint and variety stores. For more information, visit http://www.ncrma.org/.

About the National Retail Federation

As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad.  Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans.  Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retails is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com.