Pandemic-induced Upheaval in New York City’s Retail Sector

A report by James A. Parrott and Sierra Lewandowski

New York City’s retail industry was hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with employment falling about 27 percent in April, compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. The retail industry is a significant provider of jobs for entry-level workers, young adults, and individuals without a college education. The impact of Covid-19 has fallen hardest on retail workers in the clothing and electronics store segment, compared with employment levels in grocery and drug stores, and “non-stores,” or online retailers without a physical storefront. This reports focuses on key trends surfaced out of the pandemic’s upheaval – the unevenness of Covid-19’s impacts within retail, and the acceleration of e-commerce and online retailing seen over the past decade. 

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James A. Parrott is Director of Economic and Fiscal Policies at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. 

Sierra Lewandowski is a research assistant at the Center and a graduate student in public and urban policy at the Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment.