UK high demand manual skills: wholesale and retail trade
UK high demand manual skills: wholesale and retail trade stood at 21.9% in Jul 2026, according to ONS — Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS). It is one of the indicators in the Workforce pressures (BICS) table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Aug 2021 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Workforce pressures (BICS) table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 04-2026 | 01-2026 | 10-2025 | 07-2025 | 04-2025 | 01-2025 | 10-2024 | 07-2024 | 04-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High demand: manual skills | |||||||||||
| Wholesale & retail trade | 21.9 | 30.5 | 15.1 | 14.7 | 21.1 | 17.1 | 15.8 | 19.7 | 15.9 | 17.6 | |
| Transportation & storage | 20.1 | 31.3 | 28.9 | 17.9 | 17.5 | 17.7 | 20.1 | 27.5 | 14 | 21.7 |
Understanding UK high demand manual skills: wholesale and retail trade
Merchants, shopkeepers, and retail distributors across the United Kingdom calculate the proportion of trading enterprises reporting difficulties in sourcing candidates with adequate manual, warehousing, or stock-handling capabilities. This series isolates the wholesale and retail trade sector, measuring the operational and logistical skill gaps encountered in shops, warehouses, and distribution depots. Excluded from this tabulation are manufacturing, construction, and professional service industries.
Interpreting these figures requires careful consideration of retail seasonality, particularly the pre-Christmas recruitment surge that can sharply alter reported labour demands. Early estimates are subject to subsequent data revisions as survey weights are finalised. Analysts should avoid comparing retail manual skill shortages directly with office-based administrative metrics, as warehouse and shop-floor roles involve distinct physical requirements and shift patterns.
Frequently asked questions
- What roles are captured under wholesale and retail manual skills?
- The category includes warehouse order pickers, stockroom assistants, fork-lift drivers, and shop-floor handlers.
- Are online-only retailers included in this trade grouping?
- Yes, mail order and internet retail businesses form part of the wholesale and retail trade classification.
- How do peak shopping periods affect this series?
- Seasonal retail events frequently generate temporary spikes in reported warehousing and handling recruitment needs.