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. 

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.