Shock statistics have painted a grim picture of retail unemployment particularly among female workers. A recent study undertaken by analysts Ssentif has shown that unemployment among female retail workers has risen by an astonishing 27% in the last 12 months.
With high street retail giants such as Habitat and Jane Norman entering into administration, 126,000 former retail workers are now claiming job seekers allowance up from 94,000 one year ago.
Human Resources expert Scott Watson says that companies should be legally obliged have a duty to their redundant staff to up skill their job hunting skills in a proactive effort to help them exit unemployment more quickly.
'Of course companies needing to make job cuts or entering administration need to rein in costs. This does though need to be balanced with corporate social responsibility for those staff who are affected. He continues, 'This will not only help the economy to regenerate but also help skills transference in to other more buoyant sectors'.
'During the 1980's the mass closure of coal mines throughout the North resulted in the emergence of new service centre economies such as the call centre industry. Even with the current economic climate, this skills transference can be replicated in today's challenging job's market, ' Watson added.
Scott and his team have started a ground breaking online service for job hunters, called MyOnlineJobCoach, which provides expert advice on how to prepare and secure your next career move. Fascinating concept and at a fraction of the cost (Normally £87 but via here Just £47 for 12 months) of what outplacement companies charge you for that advice.
A must for corporates who are making redundancies or putting people in the "at risk" category.
Although corporates may not be able to do anything about the economic issues, they could provide their redundant employees with a 'feel-good factor', by providing access to a site where they have over 40 videos with practical and sound advice.
Scott Watson is an international human resources expert who advises organisations including DHL, GE, AXA amongst many others. He is author of the book 'Win Every Time - Essential Lessons For Existing and Emerging Leaders'. Scott has personally trained over 10,000 individuals across the globe to enhance their effectiveness.
