What: The Retail People Index from The Retail Trust and AlixPartners found that retail workers aged 25 to 44 scored 58% on wellbeing, the only age group below the 60% "struggling" threshold, while overall wellbeing held steady between April and June 2026.

Why it is important: Nearly 50% of workers aged 44 and under are considering leaving, a retention risk that earlier coverage linked to lost client relationships in luxury retail, where 68% of very important clients follow their advisors to a new employer.

Retail workers aged 25 to 44 continue to face the greatest challenges with stress and anxiety, even as overall staff wellbeing in the industry stabilised between April and June 2026. Their wellbeing score of 58% is the lowest of any age group and the only one below the Index's 60% "struggling" threshold, against 64% for those aged 19 to 24 and 65% for those aged 45 to 64. Nearly 50% of workers aged 44 and under are considering leaving their jobs.

The survey, conducted by The Retail Trust and AlixPartners, also found that four in 10 retail employees risk going into work while physically or mentally unwell, with women more exposed at 40% than men at 36%. Distribution centre staff are the most at risk of leaving, at 59%, compared with 49% of store staff.

Retail Trust chief executive Chris Brook-Carter said a steady overall score can conceal very different experiences across the workforce, and that employers need to ensure support reaches staff who need it early. AlixPartners director Jonathan Pemberthy said stability should not be mistaken for security, and that businesses acting on early signals will be best placed to build resilience.

IADS Notes: Earlier coverage shows the same pressure on retention and on younger staff. A global survey of luxury retail employees found 51% planning to leave, with 61% citing poor work-life balance (Forbes, December 2024). In Seramount's study, 45% of Gen Z rated their wellbeing above average against 84% of Boomers (Seramount, July 2025), and a US survey put burnout symptoms at 77% of Millennials and 72% of Gen Z (Times of India, July 2025). Stress also carries a cost, with 45% of employees reporting frequent or constant stress and organisations of over 1,000 staff absorbing an extra $5.4m a year (Sifted, April 2025). Frontline conditions add to the load, as 41% of retail workers worried about their safety during the festive season (Retail Week, November 2024).

Retail workers aged 25 to 44 score lowest on wellbeing as overall levels hold steady