The Retail Sector

The retail sector Ís one of the UKˆ`s biggest employment areas, aecounting for one
in nine of the
'workforee, lt Ís also one of the fàst growing = more than a f1h of jobs created
last year were in retail
Such rapid expansion in the tightest labor market for more than a generation should
be pushing up wages,
butitis noi, While the nai wage goes up by about 5% a year, in retail ít goes up
by 3.5%,

The consequences of low wages and fàr-ftom-brilliant conditions are rapid stafT
turnover, About
half the stafT employed in retail leave every year. This figure is way above even
those seetors such as
nuning, whích are said to be in a recruitment crisis, Part of the problem is that
the employers themselves
are under considerable linancial pressure, Retail is suffering a long-term slide
independent of the rises
and fhlls of the economy. One of the reasons for thỉs Ís consumer expeetations,
With the growth of e-
commeree, eustomers look for bigger and better bargains and insist on value fòr
mon‹

There are some pluses fòr employees, however. Low wages and hiph tummover make
retall a
youthful sector, Real managerial responsibility can be attained by the mid-20s, so
school-leavers or recent
eraduates need only wait a short tìme before gaining promotion, And despie the
problems, the retail
seetor does, On occasion, produce some of the more progressive career development
programs, The
supermarket chaïn Robertsons, or examples, has a conimunity serviee scheme that
trains staff in team-
building through work on neighborhood projects. And clothes retailer P&R has an
impressive record
when it comes to employing older people, lt parsues a policy of employing mature
people with long
xperienee of the products, and ỉt believes they provide better customer service.

nal avera

1. Which section is one of the UK`s largest employment areas?

2. Why do half the stafT employed in retail leave every year?

3, Why is Fetail sufforing a long-term slide independent of the rises and fàlls of
the economy?
4.. Do school-leavers or recent graduates need to wait lor a long tỉme before
gaining promotion?
5. Why does clothes retailer P&R employ older people?

HH. Translate thế following sentences iu Vietnamese. Write your answers on the
Answer sheet. (2)

1. At the beginning of your career, the most important thỉng is to fỉnd a job, any
job where you can
gan experience and develop your skills.
2. Sales and marketing work well together in the majority of compani
themselves as colleagues with common goals for a very long tìme..
THL. Complete thế following incomplete sentences beheeen 6 and 12 word, Vou have l0
u56 yoH7 00H
wors, Write the completed sentences on the Answeer sheet. (28)
1. When you order products from an online store, §
2. Franchisers can limit risk by helping new businesses avoid.....

and they have secn