On an extremely difficult labor market, the major retailers have been and continue to be the major employers in the economy, with thousands or even more than 10,000 employees each. However, to be able to cope with the shortage of labor during the last few years and the crisis in 2009-2012, the international retailers have streamlined headcount.
According to ZF’s calculations based on company-supplied and publicly available data, six of the eight networks considered cut the number of employees per 100 square meters, with Cora, Metro and Kaufland even halving it. On the other hand, Profi, went from 1.7 employees per 100 square meter to a little more than 3.
The company changed its business model in 2008-2018, however, going from a discount store to a supermarket chain. Discount store chains have the fewest employees per 100 square meters, ZF has found, as efficiency is key for this business model.
Discount store chains Lidl and Penny Market have fewer than 2 employees per 100 square meters, which makes them the most efficient retailers. Cora hypermarkets, on the other hand, have the most, 4.5 employees per 100 square meters.
The constant store openings, the labor shortage in the economy in general and the heavy fluctuation in the retail sector in particular, are the main reasons why retailers streamlined headcount in stores. To offset the lack of personnel, some retailers introduced self-checkout stations (Carrefour and Auchan).