More than 10,000 retail jobs in Scotland lost in a year, figures show

The Scottish Government must urgently act to support the country’s struggling high streets, Labour has said, after an analysis by the party revealed more than 10,000 industry jobs were lost in a year.

The data, based on the Scottish Government’s Business in Scotland report, showed that retail jobs in Scotland are at their lowest levels since at least 2010.

It found there were 235,920 retail jobs recorded this year – down from 246,270 last year and 258,900 in 2010.

Scottish Labour has criticised the Scottish Government for not extending rates relief to the retail industry.

During her budget earlier this month, Finance Secretary Shona Robison announced a 40% rates relief for the hospitality sector.

Labour has called on her to match England and extend that tax cut to the retail sector.

The party said decline on the country’s high streets would be “impossible to ignore” over the festive season.

Daniel Johnson, Labour’s economy spokesperson at Holyrood, criticised the SNP for not matching the relief seen across the border.

He said “As Scots head into town for Christmas shopping and Boxing Day sales this winter, the decline of our high streets is impossible to ignore.

“Retail jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate and town and city centres are being hollowed out, but the SNP has no plan to reverse this decline.”

Mr Johnson warned the pressure on retail firms would hurt the local and national economies.

He added: “The SNP could have supported Scotland’s struggling high streets by following Labour’s lead and extending rates relief for retail businesses but it failed.

“This decision is a hammer blow to the industry, but it is not too late to reverse it.

“The SNP has no excuse for turning its back on this important sector after Labour delivered record levels of funding to Scotland.

“We need a real plan to support retail and breathe fresh life into Scotland’s high streets – including short-term rates relief and a long-term plan to level the playing field between local businesses and online giants.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Budget 2025-26 delivers a competitive, non-domestic rates regime including a freeze to the Basic Property Rate delivering the lowest such rate in the UK for the seventh year in a row and maintaining the lowest property tax rate in the UK for over 95% of non-domestic properties in Scotland

“The Budget also provides a package of reliefs worth an estimated £731 million, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme which is the most generous of its kind in the UK.

“We estimate that around half of the properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue to be eligible for 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme relief in 2025-26.”

“Concerns have been raised with the UK Government around the rise in employer NICs, which risks hampering economic growth.”