Retailers are on a hiring spree. But consumers are sending warning signs

A woman walks past a "Now Hiring" sign in front of a store on January 13, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty Images Retailers are ramping up hiring this year, defying economic concerns as consumers keep shopping. The retail trades added nearly 22,000 jobs in April, accounting for almost one-fifth of total job growth, according to preliminary federal data released Friday. Nearly 15.5 million employees now hold retail industry jobs, the most since July 2024. …