With retail spending representing a substantial percentage of U.S. GDP (approximately three out of every four dollars), the availability of retail jobs is heavily dependent on the state of the economy. However, the high turnover level in the retail sector ensures that jobs can be found even during an economic slowdown. Retail sales jobs provide the largest portion of employment in this industry. Applicants who are multilingual or have strong customer service or sales experience should have excellent job prospects. For retail management jobs, related experience or a bachelor’s degree in merchandising, marketing or a business-related major will confer a competitive advantage.

The increasing popularity of membership-based warehouse stores is expected to produce steady growth in the number of wholesale jobs that are created. Opportunities in the wholesale sector include management, sales, administrative support, transportation and warehouse jobs.