E-Commerce Industry – How has the Need for Jobs Changed?
How has the Need for E-Commerce Jobs Changed Over the Past Year?
Without a doubt it’s safe to say the E-commerce sector has gone through some major growth in the last decade. Consumers from practically every country today benefit from the advantages of online transactions thanks to the rapid development of tech, continuous digitalization of modern life and the internet. As the access and adoption of these elements expands at a rapid pace worldwide every year the number of digital buyers multiply. In 2020, nearly two billion people purchased products or services online, with global e-commerce sales exceeding 4.2 trillion dollars.
Whilst these factors alone have pushed the development of the E-commerce sector, we were then faced with the Covid-19 pandemic which has had unprecedented effects on the industry and the demand for jobs.
Although it began with empty shelves and manic consumers stockpiling enough toilet paper and beans to last a year, Covid has now completely solidified the need for e-commerce after lockdowns and isolating became our new ‘normal’. We moved hard and fast to digital retail, which was once just one in many options we had when it came to making a purchase. However, it soon became our primary method of shopping as the high street shut and our fear of germs (and people!) grew.
Statista’s research shows in 2020, e-retail sales accounted for 18% of all retail sales worldwide. By 2024 this figure is expected to reach 21.8%, the illustration of predicted growth suggests its likely job demand shall follow in a similar pattern too which for recruiters, means this is not just a one-year peak in the pandemic.
Lauren our senior E-commerce consultant here at New Chapter shared her thoughts on the changes in this sector…
“As a business, we have seen a huge uplift in digital roles, even from traditionally brick-and-mortar business that are branching out into the digital channel.”
Another aid toward the job growth in E-commerce is the potential ‘death’ of the high street… the likes of Parcel hero (a leading courier service) have been one of many to identify and predict the potential death of the high street which they are forecasting for 2030. The high profile report which was discussed in parliament shares that ‘unless retailers developed an omnichannel approach that embraced both online and physical store sales, the High Street as we know it would reach a dead-end by 2030’.
“The rise of e-commerce has brought about many changes, most of which are happening behind the scenes, from supply chain to business & brands moving into D2C”
Whilst we have seen many companies develop their online presence over recent years, it’s clear we have further to go in this process with many yet to make the move from the high street online which will certainly continue providing a mass job feed in this sector.
In fact, a LinkedIn article shares the findings from their ‘Jobs on the rise’ report where by 9 out of the 15 countries listed feature a type of e-commerce role within their top 3. LinkedIn share the all too familiar joke of individuals who claimed their only true relationship during the pandemic was with their delivery driver… @Amazon being a particularly strong bond for many of us! As a company who hired 427,000 from January – October they are a great example of a rapidly expanding e-commerce business.
“I feel it’s a very exciting yet challenging time in this ever changing industry.”
According to LinkedIn research, the number of people hired for ecommerce-related jobs in the UK has increased by 143%. That’s a tremendous amount, and it’s only going to get bigger. The grocery sector in particular saw a significant increase in sales as more individuals turned to the internet for their shopping requirements.
Without being bias we’ve got to give credit to recruiters during this pandemic who have had to stay motivated and extremely adaptable whilst moving where they work, where they recruit, and whom they recruit (more diversity, with very different roles).
Many firms were unprepared for the effects and challenges lockdown brought us all. E-commerce offerings had to be rapidly adjusted and built upon and things were tough. However, it is now the time for reaping the rewards, it is clear irreversible changes have come from the pandemic with our shopping habits being altered… the only way for the ecommerce industry to go is up!
Are you interested in seeing what roles we have within the E-commerce sector?
Check them out below…
