A woman walks past a “Now Hiring” sign in front of a store on January 13, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia.
Olivier Duriery | AFP | Getty Images
As consumers continue to shop, retailers are ramping up hiring this year, despite economic concerns.
Retail added nearly 22,000 jobs in April, accounting for nearly a fifth of overall job growth, according to preliminary federal figures released Friday. Nearly 15.5 million people are currently employed in retail jobs, the highest number since July 2024.
Consumers have kept their wallets open in the face of war in Iran, rising gas prices, rising inflation and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Recently, strong consumer demand has given retailers the confidence to hire more employees to staff shelves and checkout areas.
“This shows how resilient spending is amid a lot of uncertainty,” said Corey Stahl, senior economist at job search platform Indeed. “This is a positive sign for the industry and the broader economy.”
growing confidence
Warehouse clubs and supercenters led retail sector employment in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor costs at department stores and electronics retailers decreased.
The labor market saw an increase of 38,000 courier and messenger jobs in April, accounting for about a third of all jobs added that month. That partially compensated for jobs lost to the weather earlier this year, said Eugenio Alemán, chief economist at Raymond James.
Total employment growth was much higher than economists expected in April, driven by growth in retail and transportation.
A separate report of preliminary government data also found that retailers recorded their highest monthly job openings in March since 2023. Job openings in this sector jumped 48% compared to the same month last year. Across the economy, the total number of listings declined over the same period.
The surge in retail jobs reflects growing optimism that consumers will continue to spend in the face of economic shocks, Stahle said. This is a reversal from 2025, when companies were concerned that President Trump’s tariffs would create cost pressure and lead to a decline in demand.
“Many employers held their breath last year,” Stahle said. “Now these employers may be able to move forward with a little more confidence.”
red flag
But while consumers appear willing to continue spending for now, warning signs are also flashing.
swirl On Wednesday, it cited “recession-level industrial decline” in the United States, where consumer confidence has been hit by the Iran war. A day later, mcdonalds Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski told analysts that consumer spending “may be a little bit worse.”
The University of Michigan reported Friday that its measure of consumer sentiment was at another record low. Research director Joan Hsu said sentiment had worsened due to the war-induced rise in gasoline prices.
Stahle said with gas prices at multi-year highs, drivers may curb discretionary spending. If that happens, the retail industry could reverse some of its recent workforce expansion to make up for weak demand, economists warned.
“We see potential growth,” Stahl said. “But there is an Iran war and a number of other events looming, and that could have a significant impact on these industries in the coming months.”
