File photo of a grocery store worker. Photo: LEHTIKUVA
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Nearly 8,000 jobs are expected to disappear from Finland’s retail sector within two years, according to a new forecast by the country’s leading trade organisation.
Kaupan liitto, the Commerce Federation, predicts that the total number of retail employees will decline by around five percent between 2024 and 2026. The drop is expected to affect mainly frontline and support roles, with automation and digital tools replacing human labour.
The federation links the trend to a weaker-than-expected recovery in consumer demand. The organisation now estimates that overall retail sales will shrink by one percent this year. In February, the federation had forecast modest growth of 0.5 percent.
“Although the turnaround in retail has been delayed, it has not been cancelled. Persistent consumer uncertainty will not disappear quickly, but improving purchasing power will gradually start to show in retail,” Jaana Kurjenoja, chief economist at Kaupan liitto, said in a statement.
The updated outlook points to global political instability as the key factor behind reduced consumer confidence and delayed recovery. According to the federation, retail sales will return to growth in 2026, with a projected increase of one percent.
The job losses, according to the forecast, will mainly affect positions that are susceptible to automation. These include logistics, sales assistants, and support roles where routine tasks are being replaced through data integration and artificial intelligence.
“Disappearing jobs are above all operational roles and support functions that can be replaced by more effective use of data, AI, and digital development,” the forecast states.
The organisation has not identified specific companies or regions where reductions will take place but has indicated the changes will be structural and spread across the sector.
Kaupan liitto represents employers in Finland’s commerce sector, including grocery, specialty, and department store chains.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
