The consumer goods industry within the retail sector is focused on creating and selling products directly to consumers through physical stores, e-commerce websites and other forms of fulfillment, such as catalogs and call centers. These products include durable goods with long life spans, like furniture and appliances, and non-durable or everyday goods such as food, clothing and personal care items.This complex industry is evolving rapidly due to digital transformation and IT modernization, changing consumer preferences, and increased e-commerce adoption. Technological advancements in supply chain management, and sustainability initiatives like ethical sourcing and eco-friendly packaging, are also fueling growth and innovation—and creating opportunities for companies and workers.However, business activity and hiring and employment trends in the consumer goods and retail industry remain highly sensitive to factors like supply chain disruptions, consumer demand fluctuations, and economic pressures such as inflation and tariffs. In the near term, at least, hiring appears to be a priority for many organizations in the industry. Robert Half’s workplace research found that 61% of consumer goods employers are expanding their teams in 2025 and hiring for both new and vacated positions.However, like many companies in other sectors, consumer goods and retail employers often struggle to hire and retain in-demand professionals. In a Robert Half survey, 87% of hiring managers in the retail industry reported it is somewhat or very challenging to find skilled talent for their team. And more than three-quarters (78%) of managers said retaining talent will be a top challenge for their organization in 2025.Here is a deeper dive into some reasons for these issues and strategies consumer goods and retail employers are using to address them. We also offer insight on hiring trends in the industry to help job seekers understand what types of roles employers are likely to be hiring for and why.
Employment Trends in the Consumer Goods and Retail Industry
A growing need for professionals with digital and cross-disciplinary skills
“Fluid” describes employment in the consumer goods and retail industry, where employees tend to move often between roles, departments and companies. Seasonal demands and economic factors can lead to fluctuations in employment for many organizations, including in their back-office functions. Additionally, lower pay and fewer benefits (compared with other industries), limited career advancement opportunities, and frequent organizational changes—such as restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and shifting business strategies—are also contributors to employee attrition in retail.With constant change in both business and workforce dynamics, many employers in the consumer goods and retail industry are seeking workers with cross-disciplinary skills and the ability to take on roles with various responsibilities. For example, a digital marketing professional with a background in content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO), who also has experience in email marketing automation and analyzing consumer behavior with tools like Google Analytics, is highly valuable. These multifaceted individuals are, of course, challenging for employers to find.The e-commerce revolution, which is reshaping the retail landscape, is also changing talent needs for many companies. For example, research for the 2025 Salary Guide From Robert Half found that the retail industry—and the e-commerce subsector—is one of the hottest hiring areas for skilled marketing and creative talent this year. Companies need these professionals to help drive brand awareness and engage customers with compelling content across various channels; manage digital and performance marketing efforts; analyze consumer behavior, and much more.Digital transformation and IT modernization initiatives—such as enterprise systems upgrades that enable everything from e-commerce to AI-powered supply chain management—are also driving increased demand for talent with specialized skills in the retail industry. A proof point: Sixty-four percent of managers in retail responding to a Robert Half survey said that AI and automation projects have impacted their hiring efforts this year, prompting them to shift their focus to hiring different skill sets that are more in demand.Candidates with AI and automation skills are not easy to find in the hiring market—and not just for companies in the retail sector. And like businesses in other industries, many employers in consumer goods and retail are working to grow the talent they need. For example, 54% of managers in the industry we surveyed said they’re addressing skills gaps in their workforce by upskilling employees so they can learn new skills that relate to their current role. Nearly half (47%) of employers said they’re reskilling workers to learn new skills so they can take on different jobs within the organization.Learn more about U.S. employers’ hiring plans and challenges in our latest Demand for Skilled Talent report.
Top strategies employers are using to improve talent retention and recruitment
Now that we’ve looked at some of the hiring and retention challenges employers in the retail sector commonly face, let’s look at how they’re addressing them—in addition to upskilling and reskilling their workers. Robert Half’s research found that these are the top ways companies in the industry intend to attract and hire skilled candidates this year:Offering flexible work schedules: 42%Increasing starting salaries: 38%Offering hybrid jobs: 37%Adding new perks and benefits: 37%To retain valued talent in 2025, retail employers will be applying strategies such as:Offering retention bonuses based on tenure: 48%Allowing employees to work remotely part-time or full time: 44%Enhancing professional development offerings: 43%What perks and benefits do today’s workers want most? See our Salary Guide for details.
What candidates need to know about job opportunities in consumer goods and retail
As we mentioned earlier, research for our 2025 Salary Guide suggests the retail industry will be ripe with opportunity for marketing and creative professionals this year.With consumers increasingly demanding engaging experiences and more personalized services, companies need strong marketing and creative teams to help them build their brand presence, develop effective campaigns and connect with customers across various channels, online and offline. Marketing professionals with experience using digital tools like generative AI, Google Analytics, social media management platforms, and e-commerce marketing solutions are likely to be in demand.Expect to see many employers in the retail industry recruiting talent in these areas as well:Administrative and customer supportFrom answering customer inquiries to managing inventory and processing orders, these roles are essential to supporting day-to-day business activities. And, as e-commerce activity continues to expand, companies need efficient customer service teams that can manage high volumes of online inquiries. Roles in virtual customer support, including chat-based services and AI-assisted customer service, are becoming increasingly prominent.Learn more about administrative and customer support job trends for 2025.Finance and accountingMany employers are seeking data-savvy candidates experienced in using tools like Microsoft Excel and financial software tailored to the retail sector. Additionally, as more companies implement or upgrade enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to unify data, automate reporting, gain actionable insights and streamline operations, the demand for professionals who can work with these platforms is rising. Increasing investment in automation and AI solutions for financial processes is also driving up the need for professionals with fintech expertise.Find out more about finance and accounting job trends for 2025.TechnologyThe consumer goods and retail industry’s ongoing focus on digital transformation and IT modernization is fueling demand for IT professionals skilled in areas like cloud computing, AI and machine learning. Roles such as e-commerce platform developers, data scientists, systems architects and cybersecurity specialists are critical to supporting innovation and improving customer experiences. Also, as companies in the sector focus on strengthening and streamlining their supply chains to increase resilience and optimize cost efficiency, demand is growing for professionals with experience in logistics technology, ERP systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.Get more insight into technology roles in demand in 2025.
Keep pace with hiring trends that can impact the retail sector
Access the Salary Guide nowThe consumer goods and retail industry is expanding and changing fast as technology continues to advance and customer expectations evolve. The industry offers many pathways for professionals in many professions to build rewarding careers. To attract top talent, including candidates with specialized skills and cross-disciplinary abilities, businesses are stepping up compensation, offering flexible work arrangements and providing meaningful professional development opportunities.Employers in the consumer goods and retail industry that want to stay on top of hiring and salary trends in marketing and creative, technology, finance and accounting, and other top fields can look to Robert Half’s Salary Guide for insight. The guide is also a valuable resource for professionals who want to understand what jobs are in demand and what type of salary they might earn for those roles.
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