The collapse of chains such as Homebase and the Body Shop put thousands of jobs at risk and contributed to 169,395 positions vanishing this year - a 42% rise on 2023.
The end-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research are the worst since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of Covid-19 lockdowns.
It says 38 major retailers have gone into administration this year, including Lloyds Pharmacy, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Administrations accounted for about a third of the job losses - 55,914 in total - with the remainder axed by large retailers or small independents shuttering unprofitable stores.
This story is from the December 30, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 30, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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