NRF: Retail adds jobs in April

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said that retail employment increased 28,000 in April 2014 from March 2014 and 241,000 year-over-year. March's retail employment was revised upward by 2,700 jobs.



NRF said the increase reflects the growth and positive momentum seen in the retail industry in recent months. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy as a whole added 288,000 jobs in April, reducing the unemployment rate from 6.7% to 6.3%.



"After a weak report on growth in the overall economy, the strong jobs report shows that the backlash from the weather-induced slowdown between December and March impacted economic activity but was not a foreboding sign of what is to come," said Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist of the NRF. “We expect a rebound in economic activity. While only select sectors such as apparel and general merchandise reported higher results, we expect retailers to be stocked and prepared for one of the busiest times of the year, summer."