Workforce

Our Focus

The retail industry is a window into the American workforce. As the nation’s largest private sector employer, retail supports more than 52 million American jobs throughout our diverse ecosystem. Retail workers represent all types of people, in all types of roles, experience, education, and skills, in all phases of their lives. Retail is for everyone; it is the place for a first job, a second chance, a third act, or a side hustle – the retail workforce is truly representative of the American workforce.

Creating a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Workforce

RILA is devoted to ensuring retailers have access to the tools, research, and benchmarking to improve policies around DE&I.

Retail Opportunities

RILA recently surveyed our members to learn more about the opportunities for work and career advancement that exist in retail.

Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act)

PRO Act is a return to antiquated thinking about work. Retailers are advocating for a modern policy fostering innovation & preserving employee rights.

Growing the 21st Century Retail Workforce

RILA advocates for forward-thinking workplace policies at the state and federal level that reflect the needs of a large and diverse workforce.

Employing and Supporting DACA Beneficiaries

RILA is an unwavering support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and continues to advocate for a permanent solution.

Preserving Existing Benefits and Creating New Opportunities

RILA members are at the forefront of developing new innovative approaches designed to encourage preventative health, improve outcomes, and lower cost.

Retail is for Everyone

The retail industry prides itself on providing opportunities to people from all walks of life, at any stage in their career -#retailis4Everyone.

Retail Talent Pipeline

Explore activities that allow RILA members to connect to a diverse, skilled and innovative workforce.

Workforce Committees

Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, providing opportunity for all. RILA advocates for sound policies that support diversity, flexibility, upward mobility, and the power to choose one’s own path.

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Explore our latest research on the retail workforce

Labor Activity in Retail (2022)

RILA and IRI Consultants 2022 report provides data around the rate and growth of labor activity in 2021 and outlines key strategies to help leading retailers address workforce challenges.

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Attract and Hire People for Who They Are (2022)

Best practices and promising new models for hiring across the RILA membership and Talent Solutions’ retail clients.

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Labor Activity in Retail (2021)

Latest data on union organizing and membership across the nation as well as four articles about timely labor and employee relations topics.

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Retail Law Conference 2022

Oct 12 - Oct 14, 2022
Washington, DC.

The 2022 Retail Law Conference is retail's premier gathering of in-house counsel, featuring excellent educational content on retail-specific topics and outstanding networking opportunities. RILA is excited to gather in person for this year's conference.

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