New data from de Poel, procurer of temporary agency labour, reveals that the use of temporary agency workers in the UK retail industry has fallen for the fourth consecutive month.

The statistics show that the use of temporary agency labour has decreased steadily since the start of the year by 5%, supporting the research by the British Independent Retailers Association showing many small stores, operated by family firms and small businesses, are closing at a faster rate than new shops are opening.

However, the stats also show that other industries are experiencing a healthy growth and the number of hours worked by temporary agency workers increased by an average of nearly 20% (19.79%) last month compared to April.

Some sectors, such as construction, business services and logistics, experienced far higher growth than this still.

Key facts

• The number of hours worked by temporary agency staff increased by 19.71% in May 2011 compared with May 2010.

• Increase in temporary agency labour usage (May 2010-April 2011) by sector:

- Waste 18.61%

- Retail 13.04% Business services 65.02%

- Construction 114.21% 

- Logistics 46.74% Facilities 13.40%

• Decreases of temporary agency labour usage by sector:

- Care -29.63%

- Manufacturing -1.06%