There were 23,000 fewer jobs in retail in September 2011 compared to the same month last year, according to the Retail Employment Monitor produced by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and law firm Bond Pearce.

However, the number of retail outlets grew with 1,134 new shops opening nationwide.

In the run-up to Christmas, 54% of retailers have plans to increase staffing levels, compared with 61% last year.

Non-food retailers were at the forefront of job shrinkage, with part-time and full-time hours falling sharply, while the grocery sector increased the number of full-time employers in Q3 2011, albeit by the slowest rate since annual comparisons began in 2009.

Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, says: “The Chancellor must use his Autumn Statement to restore confidence and jobs growth through a moratorium on new employment regulation.”

Christina Tolvas-Vincent, head of retail employment at Bond Pearce, says: “Store numbers continue to increase but food retailers are almost entirely responsible for this, and curiously the trend for them is towards more full-time job opportunities, with part-timers’ hours remaining almost flat, which could make things more difficult for those looking for flexible employment.

“Seasonal hiring from those parts of retailing that gain significantly from Christmas may provide some respite, but this won’t change the underlying weakness in the retail labour market.”

For more on the retail employment market, see the sector analysis in Recruiter’s next edition, out 2 November.