We have an unlimited number of Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks available.

Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks (NOC 6421)

Nature of the Work

Retail salespersons and sales clerks sell or rent a range of goods and services in stores and other retail businesses and in wholesale businesses that sell on a retail basis to the general public.

It's esay to hire Retail Salespersons & Sales Clerks

Able Recruiters provides retail salespersons and sales clerks for businesses in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Retail salespersons and sales clerks qualify for Expedited Labour Market Opinions (E-LMOs) from HRSDC. This means that their applications for Labour Market Opinions can be processed in three to five business days.

Main Duties of Retail Salespersons & Sales Clerks

Retail salespersons and sales clerks greet customers and discuss the type, quality and quantity of merchandise sought for purchase or rental. Retail Salespersons advise customers on use and care of merchandise, and they estimate or quote prices, credit terms, trade-in allowances, warranties and delivery dates. Retail Salespersons also prepare sales contracts and merchandise for purchase or rental, they accept cash, cheque, credit card or automatic debit payment, and they assist in the display of merchandise.

Example Titles of Retail Salespersons & Sales Clerks

Working Conditions of Retail Salespersons

Retail Salespersons must be able to answer inquiries about the products or services they represent. They are often either in direct contact with customers or in close proximity to them. Sales staff should be prepared to work some evenings and weekends.

In 2000 the average annual earnings for all workers in the Retail Salespersons occupational group were $17,600, which is well below the provincial average of $32,100. Roughly one-third worked full-time for the whole year and received an average of $30,900 in earnings. This is substantially lower than the provincial average of $44,200. According to a survey of recent college graduates, those who found work in these occupations earned an average of $1,560 per month or $18,720 per year for full-time work.

This very large occupational group experienced a decline of employment between 1990 and 2001. However, the number of employed workers is still substantial at 71,980 in 2001.

Few retail salespersons and sales clerks (7%) are self-employed and few of these work full time. This proportion is well below the all-occupation average of 14%.

Seasonal fluctuations and the temporary nature of this work are reflected in the fact that only half work year round.Unemployment is about the same as the average for all occupations in B.C.

Most retail sales persons and clerks (79.8%) are employed in the retail trade and the remainder work in the wholesale trade (4.3%), real estate and rental and leasing (3.5%) and other industries. The regional distribution of workers in this group is similar to that of general workforce. Sixty-one percent are located in the Lower Mainland, 17% on Vancouver Island, 15% in the Southern Interior and 7% in Northern B.C.

There is an average proportion of male and female workers in this group. There is also a very high proportion of young people. Half of all retail salespersons and sales clerks are younger than 35 while fewer than one in five workers is 55 or older. This is indicative of the entry-level work in these occupations, with the exception of of specialized sales, such as automobiles or antiques, that usually require more experience and knowledge.

Employment Prospects of Retail Salespersons

This is one of the largest occupational groups in B.C., estimated at 71,980 workers in 2001. The Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) projects an annual employment growth rate of 2.0% for this group, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

According to this projection, 27,260 positions will become available from 2001 to 2011. Over half of these openings (57%) will result from growth in the number of new jobs and the remainder will be due to retirements. Additional openings will become available due to worker turnover.

In 2001 more than 80% of Retail Salespersons were employed in the retail trade industry and another 7% in the wholesale trade industry. Employment in these industries is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2001 to 2011. These industries tend to reflect the employment growth of the economy as a whole because of the wide range of products sold and the close ties to most other industries. The retail trade industry includes all establishments that sell goods, such as gasoline, groceries, construction supplies and tooth picks, for use by consumers and households. The wholesale trade industry supplies these goods to retailers. A rapidly growing tourism sector will create growth in these industries, especially leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler.

Those employed in the clothing, footwear, home furnishing and music sectors should be experienced and must be aware of the latest fashions and trends, especially when dealing with young shoppers. The move by retailers to streamline operations, reduce costs and adapt quickly to changing market trends and conditions is reducing the number of full-time jobs and increasing part-time work in this field. There will be plenty of part-time, casual or seasonal openings for those who wish to work in these areas. However, retail salespersons are usually required to demonstrate sales ability and product knowledge when selling specialized merchandise, such as automobiles, antiques and computers.

To keep up with competition, many retailers provide on-line product information and allow purchases through the internet. Despite the growing popularity of electronic commerce, internet sales have not decreased the need for retail salespersons. Retail salespersons will remain an important way to provide customers with specialized service and improve customer satisfaction, which is something Internet services cannot do. As a result, the impact of electronic commerce on the employment of retail salespersons is expected to be minimal.

With additional training or experience, progression to retail supervisory positions is possible.

$10.60 ( Lethbridge / Medicine Hat / Crowsnest Pass )

$11.48 ( Red Deer / Camrose / Wetaskiwin / Rocky / Olds )

British Columbia

$11.97 ( Lower Mainland Southwest )

$11.04 ( Northern British Columbia )

$11.47 ( Thompson Okanagan Kootenay )

$11.76 ( Vancouver Island )

Employing Retail Salespersons & Sales Clerks

We can help you recruit retail salespersons and sales clerks, quickly and economically.  Retail salespersons and sales clerks are included in the Expedited Labour Market Opinion (E-LMO) Pilot Project, so they can get work visas relatively easily. We will help with all of the arrangements.  Let us help you recruit all of the retail salespersons and sales clerks you need.

Services

We can help you fill vacancies in a variety of job descriptions.  Whether you need one food counter attendant, 10 retail salespersons, or 100 hotel housekeepers, we can provide experienced, reliable workers quickly and economically.  Everything we do is geared toward helping our clients.

Job Categories

Although we can source various skilled and unskilled workers, we specialize in these categories:

- Caretakers & Janitors

- Construction Labourers

- Delivery Drivers

- Food & Beverage Servers

- Food Counter Attendants

- Hotel Room Attendants

- Hotel Front Desk Clerks

- Manufacturing Labourers

- Residential Cleaning Workers

HRSDC Rules

The job categories we specialize in qualify for the Expedited Labour Market Opinion (E-LMO) Pilot Project. E-LMOs are processed quickly - usually in less than five business days.  This makes the recruitment of temporary foreign workers faster and easier.