Retail Trade Sector Jobs In Sacramento Grow 4.7% Year Over Year
The overall jobs picture for the Sacramento metropolitan region is looking up, with the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) reporting an increase of 7,800 jobs between May and June of 2013. That number includes full-time and part-time positions, both hourly and salary, for Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties, bringing the total number to 850,700 jobs.
The strongest growth is being seen in the retail trade sector, including brick-and-mortar stores for clothing and accessories, music, sporting goods, books, hobby supplies, building and garden supplies and general merchandise products. Preliminary numbers for June 2013 show a 4.7 percent increase in retail employment over June of the prior year.
Within the retail sector, the most impressive growth in the Sacramento region is in automotive sales and parts businesses and in grocery stores. EDD reports reflect a five percent jump in employment with 600 additional jobs with motor vehicle and parts dealers. Major players in the non-dealership linked parts franchises in Sacramento include O'Reilly Auto Parts, with 14 locations, NAPA with 17 and CARQUEST with nine.
Many Sacramento car dealers require staff for new and used car sales, service departments, customer service and parts sales. A 2012 report by The California New Car Dealers Association reflects an average of 92 employees is needed for a franchised automotive dealer in the state. Auto malls in Folsom, Roseville, Elk Grove and Fulton Avenue include many makes and models of vehicles, and there are numerous individual and independent dealers in the region as well.
Employment in Sacramento grocers has grown 4.1 percent from June 2012 to June 2013, an increase in 700 positions. Sacramento-based Raley's, including Nob Hill and Bel Air markets, has 59 locations in the local area, and other national and regional chains include Safeway, Save Mart, Trader Joe's, Food Maxx, FoodsCo, Food Source, Nugget and Whole Foods.
Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers animals and community issues. She has volunteered and worked for many organizations helping animals and people.
Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
