Struggling stores have axed almost 50,000 shop staff in just six months after fall in consumer spending
STRUGGLING high street chains have axed almost 50,000 shop staff in the past six months.
Shock figures show retailers have been hammered by soaring business rates and a fall in consumer spending.
In the past few weeks, House of Fraser has put more than 6,000 jobs at risk while Poundworld has plunged into administration with 5,100 staff in danger.
Toys R Us and Maplin collapsed earlier this year.
And restaurants including Prezzo, Byron and Jamie’s Italian have culled hundreds of jobs, figures compiled by the Press Association show. The TUC called on the Government to “up its game”.
General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Retail depends on customers having money in their pockets.
One reason why some shops are struggling is because wage growth has been very weak.
“Government needs to boost the economy and invest in great jobs that people can live on.”
Figures from property experts Altus Group also show the average business rates bill for a department store rocketed 26.6 per cent to £717,952 following last year’s Government revaluation.
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And there is stiff competition from web rivals such as Amazon, with almost one in every five pounds spent online last year.
Away from retail, BT is axing about 8,650 workers while the collapse of outsourcer Carillion led to more than 2,375 job losses.
British Gas owner Centrica has announced 4,000 roles will go.