1Industry Overview
Retail trade is Australia's second-largest employer, with over 1.3 million workers across 140,000+ retail businesses. The sector generates $400+ billion in annual turnover. From major shopping centres and department stores to boutique retailers and e-commerce operations, retail offers diverse employment across urban and regional areas. Major employers include Woolworths Group, Coles, Wesfarmers (Kmart, Bunnings), and JB Hi-Fi.
2Omnichannel Revolution
The shift to omnichannel retail — blending physical stores with online — has created new roles including e-commerce coordinators, online fulfilment specialists, and customer experience managers. Click-and-collect operations require workers skilled in both in-store service and logistics. Retailers are investing heavily in staff training to deliver personalised customer experiences that differentiate them from online-only competitors.
3Seasonal Staffing
Retail experiences significant seasonal fluctuations, with Christmas/Boxing Day, Easter, EOFY, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday driving peak hiring. Major retailers hire thousands of casual workers during these periods. Boxing Day alone generates over $2.6 billion in sales nationally. Planning seasonal recruitment 6–8 weeks ahead is critical for retailers to avoid costly understaffing.
4Wages & Careers
The General Retail Industry Award 2020 sets base rates from $25.35/hour for Level 1 employees, with casuals receiving 25% loading. Department managers and area managers can earn $65,000–$95,000+. Retail offers clear career progression from sales assistant through to team leader, department manager, store manager, and regional management. Sunday and public holiday penalty rates significantly boost earnings.