Electronic shopping employment more than tripled from 2001 to 2016

The Monday after Thanksgiving in the United States is called “Cyber Monday.” On this day, many people shop online for the holiday season. Over the past 15 years, the number of electronic (online) shopping establishments increased 460 percent, from 3,625 establishments in 2001 to more than 20,000 establishments in 2016. During the same time, the number of discount department stores grew 64 percent, from 6,370 in 2001 to 10,435 in 2016. The number of warehouse clubs and supercenters increased 34 percent from 2001 to 2016, while the number of department stores, except discount, declined 16 percent.

Although the number of electronic shopping establishments in 2016 exceeded the number of department stores and warehouse clubs and supercenters, employment in electronic shopping remained less than employment in those other retail industries. Nevertheless, electronic shopping employment more than tripled over the past 15 years, adding nearly 178,000 jobs from 2001 to 2016.

Employment in warehouse clubs and supercenters nearly doubled from 2001 to 2016, adding nearly 737,000 jobs. In 2003, warehouse club and supercenter employment surpassed employment in discount department stores and in department stores, except discount. Employment in department stores, except discount, declined 45 percent from 2001 to 2016, losing nearly 384,000 jobs. Employment also fell in discount department stores, by 7 percent from 2001 to 2016, despite the 64-percent increase in establishments.

These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. For more data on establishments, employment, and wages, see the QCEW data retrieval tool.