California’s Economy Runs on Retail
One fourth of California’s workforce is supported by the retail industry
Supporting one quarter of the state's total workforce and second only to healthcare as the state’s largest direct employer, retail is the backbone of California’s economy. Retail jobs are also overwhelmingly rooted in our local communities, with small businesses making up 99 percent of retail employers.
Retail Creates Career
79% of retail employees are happy working in retail and 78% are satisfied with their jobs.
California retailers offer pathways into managerial roles across industry sectors and skilled trades. Six in ten current retail employees have been promoted and 85 percent have received at least one raise.
Further, 94 percent of retail employees report being hired for a job when they use a retail manager as a reference, with a large majority crediting that reference as a key factor in landing the role.
Retail Puts People First
Retailers invest in their employees. They provide opportunities for employees to grow their careers, further their education and support for employees’ families.
As a retail employee, benefits can include:
Supporting Families:
Access to affordable child and elder care; tutoring discounts for team members’ children; reimbursements for costs related to building a family, including adoption, surrogacy, doula services, and more.
Supporting New Parents:
Through leave-sharing programs, employees can give up to six weeks of their paid parental leave to a spouse or partner whose employer does not offer parental leave. Retailers also offer eight consecutive weeks of flexibility and partial work hours to new parents as they readjust to work schedules.
Growing Your Career:
Opportunities to be paired with local apprenticeships that allow employees to gain field experience and 100 percent tuition reimbursement to attend trade school.
Full Coverage for Health Emergencies:
On top of health benefits, retailers offer full coverage for certain specialty care such as cancer, spine or joint replacements, transplants, heart and weight loss surgery.
Investing in Your Education:
Tuition, books, and fees support for college programs and funding for high school diplomas, GEDs and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency certifications.
