The retail sector will look to expand abroad while increasing its online footprint, according to Lee Evans, group recruitment manager at New Look.

Evans’ comments follow reports that BBC1’s Panorama programme will claim tonight that the average UK employee has seen the value of their take-home pay fall by £1,088 since the middle of the recession in 2009.

Evans told Recruiter: “We’re a value-driven business so there is a focus on driving down costs. When the UK has a tough time, retailers look to expand overseas. We’re in two dozen countries. Online also reduces costs and that’s a real growth area for us. You need to find a health balance between bricks and clicks.

“The large markets are in China and India. We’re not over there yet but I think it’s only a matter of time. Manufacturing has gone East and I see no reason why retail won’t go the same way. Those consumers have got more disposable income.”