Employment growth among retail salespersons reflects rising retail sales stemming from a growing population.
...
Growth will be fastest in general merchandise stores, many of which sell a wide assortment of goods at low prices.
...
Despite the growing popularity of electronic commerce, the impact of online shopping on the employment of retail salespersons is expected to be minimal. Internet sales have not decreased the need for retail salespersons.
Click to enlarge.
BLS: Retail Salespersons (2000)
Click to enlarge.
Here are seven things that we know.
1. The government is predicting that 374,700 new retail salesperson jobs will be created between 2008 and 2018.
2. The government predicted that 565,000 new retail salesperson jobs would be created between 1998 and 2008.
3. Hindsight shows that 92,800 retail salesperson jobs were eliminated between 1998 to 2008.
4. The government continues to believe that online sales will not decrease the need for retail salespersons.
5. The government continues to see theoretical "employment growth among retail salespersons" thanks to a "growing population" and growth in stores selling "goods at low prices".
6. Stores that sell "goods at low prices" generally pay low wages.
7. Theoretical jobs can pay even less.
Here's a bonus projection from 2000 (as seen within the link I offered).
ReplyDeleteMining engineers, including mine safety engineers
Employment is expected to decline. The continued pricing weakness of metals, minerals, and other mined commodities will make new domestic exploration uneconomical.
Hahaha!
Here's what they say in the 2010 edition.
Most mining machines and control rooms are now automatic or computer-controlled, requiring fewer, if any, human operators. Many mines also operate with other sophisticated technology such as lasers and robotics, which further increases the efficiency of resource extraction.
Lasers. robots, and few human workers?
Fantastic!
7. Theoretical jobs can pay even less.
ReplyDeleteStag,
I'm thinking we'd be much better off if we had more theoretical banking employment over the past twenty years. Theoretical financial "innovation" is far less damaging than the real thing.
At least sIlver is on a tear! Some of my utensils are really appreciating. And your old car may allow you to buy a new one soon too!
mab,
ReplyDelete"Some of my utensils are really appreciating."
I'll trade you 10 babies with oil-based sporks in their mouths for one baby with a silver spoon in its mouth. Today only though, just in case the prices change. I'm not in it for the long-term. I just want to make some quick cash.
Oops. I was thinking like a speculative commodity trader and/or investment banker there for a moment. Sorry.
This is a package of 10 magnificent sporks from the Swedish company Light My Fire. The spoon-fork-knife combo brings a bit of civilization to the wild and a bit of the wild to civilization.
$24.99? Seriously? Deal's off! I changed my mind! I'm hoarding the sporks! I know something they don't know.
Protective Qualities: Break Resistant, Rust Resistant
Sporks aren't just rust resistant. They're rustproof! Knowledge is power. ;)
"The government continues to believe that online sales will not decrease the need for retail salespersons."
ReplyDeleteI think you hit this one solid. I don't even buy anything anymore at the store really (Amazon is all I need) and I am an old school type not overly computer/gadget centered. Most younger folks today do everything onlne, they just go to the mall to walk around.
GYSC,
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, I used to think the Sears Christmas Wishbook Catalog was the best thing ever. Now I can't even remember the last time I was in a Sears. It's been at least 5 years if memory serves.
Sears Wishbook
In 1993, Sears discontinued publishing their big-book catalogs in the United States and the Wish Book noticeably started to diminish in size. By 2005, Sears had completely abandoned anything resembling the original Wish Book...
My stores of choice are Costco and Sam's Club. My behavior is especially difficult for my local Safeway, QFC (Kroger), and Albertsons. I pretty much only shop the sales.
I saw the Kroger CEO on TV not that long ago telling me that his customers are loyal. Absolutely. I am. It's a two way street though. Keep sending me those flyers in my mail box and I'll keep cherry picking the products that are bargains, lol. Sigh.
I'm the economy's worst nightmare. About the only thing I shop for these days is food. Seriously. There's just nothing much I want. I'm relatively "stuff" satiated.
I'm addicted to video games. About one month ago I purchased Sacred 2 for $30 at Fry's. I play it constantly these days. I figure there's still several more months of serious entertainment left in it before I make my next purchase.
What's that work out to per hour? Maybe 20 cents (includes the cost of electricity and wear and tear on the TV).
I once thought bowling was equally enjoyable. I never paid 20 cents per hour for it though, even back in the 1970s.
As a side note to any Comcast CEOs who might be reading this. You are in dangerous territory. You are charging me SO much more than 20 cents per hour for entertainment. You are at serious risk that we cut you off entirely someday. Netflix was our first step in that direction.
I may actually buy Amazon's Kindle. I'd like to read a nearly infinite variety of free online books at my leisure. It just doesn't get any more deflationary than that. It would make my 20 cent per hour video game addiction seem like an extravagant luxury by comparison, lol. Sigh.