Retail workers aged 25 to 44 report lowest wellbeing scores

A recent study conducted by the Retail Trust together with AlixPartners indicates that the overall wellbeing score for retail staff held at 61% for the April-June 2026 quarter, slipping just one point from the prior three-month period yet standing two points above the same timeframe in 2025. The index, which rates employee wellbeing on a scale up to 100, flags any result under 60 as a sign that workers are experiencing difficulty. While the figure suggests a degree of steadiness after a tough 2025, concerns about stress and anxiety remain prevalent across the sector.

Age groups show stark differences

Workers aged 25 to 44 posted the lowest rating among all age brackets, reaching only 58%, a decline of one point compared with the first quarter of the year. This cohort is the sole group whose score falls beneath the 60-point cutoff that signals struggle. By contrast, employees in the 19-24 age range and those between 45 and 64 recorded wellbeing levels of 64% and 65% respectively. The dip observed in the mid-career segment suggests that the particular pressures of retail jobs at this stage may generate a pressure point not as acute for younger or older workers.

Almost four out of ten retail staff members, 39%, still report attending work while feeling physically or mentally unwell. That proportion marks an improvement from 44% recorded for the comparable period a year earlier, although it climbs to 46% among customer-service personnel, who also tend to indicate higher levels of anxiety than peers in other functions.

Gender and leadership roles reveal further disparities

Female employees are more prone to work while unwell, with 40% indicating such risk versus 36% of male colleagues, even though women generally cite stronger managerial support, greater recognition, and better ability to handle stress at work. Women also report higher incidences of anxiety, hinting that factors outside the workplace may be eroding their overall wellbeing.

The share of retail workers classified as “flight risk”, those who might be considering leaving their positions, has dropped by seven percentage points over the past year to 47%. Nonetheless, this metric edged upward from 45% in the preceding quarter, a shift that may be linked to the rise in reported anxiety.

When it comes to intentions to quit, managers show a higher likelihood than non-managers, with 49% versus 46% respectively, and stress emerges as the primary differentiator between the two groups. This pattern points to the added responsibilities and pressures inherent in leadership roles as possible drivers behind the desire to exit the sector. The data show that while aggregate scores appear stable, they can mask substantial differences in individual experiences and vulnerability.