ARA

Retail Works for Alabama, Supporting 1 in 4 Jobs in Our State

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
National Retail Federation Study Shows
Importance of Retail to Alabama Economy 
 


MONTGOMERY, AL and WASHINGTON, DC – Retail supports 590,762 workers in Alabama – almost 24 percent of Alabama jobs – and 17 percent of Alabama’s economic activity, according to research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the National Retail Federation. Alabama has slightly more than one retail business for every square mile of the state.

Those 56,691 retail establishments directly employed 420,755 in 2009, which means the retail industry (including food services, drinking places and self-employed retailers) employs more people than any other private employer in the state. Retail employs more than manufacturing (255,116), more than healthcare (221,755), more than construction (155,853) and more than agriculture (66,936).

“Retail leads Alabama’s economy, and the state’s economic recovery depends on retail,” ARA President Rick Brown said. “Retailers are Alabama’s biggest employer and the state’s loudest cheerleaders, because retail works for Alabama.”

The research that puts retail at the top when it comes to Alabama employment is part of NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign, a year-long nationwide advocacy effort to underscore retail’s importance to the nation’s economy.

“The retail industry supports a quarter of our nation’s jobs and will continue to be at the forefront of our economic recovery,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Our campaign aims to ensure that we do everything possible as a nation to support the vitality of the retail sector, in order to create jobs and continue to foster U.S. innovation and competitiveness.”

Retail Means JobsAlabama’s 56,691 retail establishments directly and indirectly account for one in four jobs – more than any other industry – and more than 16 percent of all labor income. NRF is working with ARA to spread the word on the importance of retail to Alabama’s economy. Alabamians can visit www.RetailMeansJobs.com/Alabama to see retail’s enormous impact on the state’s economy. A link to the information also is available at www.alabamaretail.org/retailfacts.

 

ABOUT ARA

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The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Our 4,000 independent merchant and national company members sell food, clothing, furniture and other general merchandise at more than 6,000 locations throughout Alabama. ARA promotes what is best for the retailing industry in Alabama and has been doing so since 1943. From legislation to education, through communication and member services, ARA members benefit from the value of membership in their association. Retail works! www.alabamaretail.org 
ABOUT NRF
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As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign emphasizes the economic importance of retail and encourages policymakers to support a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation.  www.nrf.com
 
 
  
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 NRF Media Contact: Kathy Grannis, 202.783.7971

Media Contact: Nancy King Dennis | 334.551.0643 | 334.868.2195