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Soft skills and employability: Evidence from UK retail

Author

Listed:
  • Dennis Nickson
  • Chris Warhurst
  • Johanna Commander
  • Scott A Hurrell
  • Anne Marie Cullen

Abstract

This article contributes to ongoing debates about soft skills in front-line interactive service work in considering employability in the UK retail sector. It recognizes how UK government policy has emphasized the importance of qualifications in enhancing employability. However, it suggests that for front-line work in retail it is soft skills that are required to access entry-level jobs. The article notes how these soft skills have traditionally been dominated by debates about emotional labour. Drawing on a survey of 173 clothing, footwear and leather goods retailers, the article argues for a need to recognize the broadening of soft skills to also include aesthetic labour. The article concludes by discussing the implications of the broadening of soft skills with regard to policy initiatives to encourage the long-term unemployed into the retail sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Dennis Nickson & Chris Warhurst & Johanna Commander & Scott A Hurrell & Anne Marie Cullen, 2012. "Soft skills and employability: Evidence from UK retail," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 33(1), pages 65-84, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:33:y:2012:i:1:p:65-84
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X11427589
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ronald W. McQuaid & Anne Green & Mike Danson, 2005. "Introducing Employability," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 42(2), pages 191-195, February.
    2. Ronald W. McQuaid & Colin Lindsay, 2005. "The Concept of Employability," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 42(2), pages 197-219, February.
    3. Chris Warhurst & DENNIS NICKSON & ANNE WITZ & ANNE MARIE CULLEN, 2000. "Aesthetic Labour in Interactive Service Work: Some Case Study Evidence from the ‘New’ Glasgow," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 1-18, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Gonzales, Marisa C. & Short, Jeremy C., 2025. "The female athlete's dilemma in the age of Name, Image, and Likeness," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 24(C).

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