ng into the European Commission’s sectoral analyses as part of its strategy, “New Jobs for New Skills.” By 2020, the employment market in retail will depend on the development of new technologies and consumers will to embrace those changes for their purchases. (Ref. 100161)
Characteristics of the sector. The report published by the European Commission is about wholesale and retail trade. The sector amounts to €1.352 billion, i.e. 11.8% of the EU’s gross domestic product in 2006, with 93% of added value realized in Western Europe. The study shows that the sector underwent substantial change over the past 20 years, with retailers negotiating more and more directly with producer or creating their own brand. Internet and the introduction of e-commerce also change the sector’s practices, or even the role of some roleplayers such as retailers, since the producers can now sell directly to the consumers.