The chief executive of Next, Lord Simon Wolfson, has issued a stark warning that the number of entry-level retail jobs in Britain is set to decline 'dramatically' over the coming decade. In remarks to the BBC, Wolfson attributed the shift to the accelerating adoption of automation and artificial intelligence in warehousing, customer service, and stock management. 'The entry-level job that used to exist for thousands of school leavers is being replaced by a machine,' he said. 'We are seeing a structural change, not a cyclical one.'
The comment comes as the British Retail Consortium reports that retail employment fell by 2.3% in the last quarter alone, with the sharpest losses among cashier and shelf-stacking roles. Meanwhile, online giants like Amazon have invested heavily in robotic fulfilment centres, while traditional retailers deploy self-checkout tills and AI-driven inventory systems. Wolfson warned that the pace of change would accelerate as the technology matures and costs fall.
This is not a prediction of total job elimination but a transformation of the labour market. The retail sector has long been a crucial employer for young people without higher education. According to the Office for National Statistics, one in five 16-24 year olds in work are employed in retail. A sharp contraction in these roles could have ripple effects on youth unemployment, social mobility, and regional economies.
There is a parallel here to the decline of manufacturing in the 1980s. Then, as now, technology rendered many manual roles obsolete. But the difference today is the speed of change. AI systems can be deployed globally within months, not years. And while reskilling programmes exist, they often fail to reach those most at risk. The government's own 'Future of Jobs' report suggests that 7% of jobs in Britain are at high risk of automation by 2037, with retail disproportionately affected.
Some argue that new roles will emerge. Wolfson himself pointed to the growth of technical jobs in IT, logistics, and data analytics. But these require higher-level skills and are often located in urban centres, leaving behind towns that rely on retail as a primary employer. The geography of joblessness is likely to become more pronounced.
The question is whether policymakers and educators can adapt quickly enough. The UK's apprenticeship levy and skills bootcamps are steps in the right direction, but they remain small in scale. A more radical approach may be needed, such as a 'robot tax' or universal basic income, ideas that have been floated but not seriously pursued.
For now, the immediate effect is a tightening of entry-level opportunities. School leavers who might have walked into a retail job a decade ago now face a much more competitive landscape. The retail sector, long a bellwether for the broader economy, is sending a clear signal. The calm urgency of Wolfson's message should not be underestimated. The data is unequivocal: the nature of work is changing, and the transition will be painful unless we prepare.
