The John Lewis Partnership is recruiting more than 10,400 seasonal workers for the Christmas period, with the retailer highlighting opportunities for young people as youth unemployment remains a persistent concern.
The group, which owns John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets, said around 6,000 of the roles would be based across Waitrose’s 320 shops, while a further 2,600 would be available across John Lewis’s 36 stores.
Another 1,800 positions will be created across the group’s distribution centres and wider supply chain.
The recruitment campaign represents a reduction from last year, when JLP sought to hire 13,700 seasonal workers in what was its largest-ever Christmas recruitment drive.
JLP said it recruits people of all ages and backgrounds, but that its seasonal positions have traditionally proved particularly popular with younger applicants. Around three-quarters of those hired in previous years were under 25.
Helen Webb, JLP’s chief people officer, described retail as a “vital stepping stone for young people entering the workforce”.
“With youth unemployment remaining a significant challenge, we recognise the role we play in providing meaningful opportunities to learn and grow,” she said.
The hiring drive comes after official figures showed the number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training — known as Neets — exceeded one million earlier this year for the first time in more than a decade.
The figure subsequently fell to 981,000 between April and June, but remained 30,000 higher than a year earlier, prompting calls for greater support to help young people enter the labour market.
JLP will pay seasonal workers £13 an hour, rising to £13.25 across the UK after 30 days. In London, the initial rate is £14.55 an hour, increasing to £14.80 after 30 days.
The company also expects to recruit 100 young people with experience of the care system as part of an effort to reduce barriers to employment.
“By offering thousands of roles to under-25s and guaranteeing interviews for care-experienced young people, we are actively helping to break down barriers to employment and investing in the future of our communities,” Webb said.
The recruitment push comes as JLP embarks on a broader three-year turnaround strategy aimed at improving the performance of the group.
Internal communications reported by the Financial Times said the plan was intended to “get John Lewis leading again”.
The strategy includes an ambition to generate more than £100 million in additional profit by bringing together the John Lewis and Waitrose loyalty programmes, which provide customers with personalised rewards and benefits.
The Christmas hiring campaign therefore comes at a pivotal moment for the partnership, as it seeks to strengthen its customer proposition while responding to a difficult labour market for younger workers.
For thousands of young people, however, the seasonal recruitment drive offers a more immediate opportunity: a route into paid employment at a time when the number struggling to make the transition from education into work remains stubbornly high.
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