Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers

(NOC 0621)

in All Management

Retail and wholesale trade managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of companies that sell merchandise or services on a retail or wholesale basis. Retail and wholesale trade managers work for retail and wholesale sales companies or they may own and operate their own store.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1060 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Management

  • Estimate 2445 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5900 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

More job openings are available in Halifax because of its prominence as regional center of commerce. Some jobs may require working non-traditional hours such as evenings or weekends. Those with experience working the public may find more opportunities.

Hourly Pay

$17.51

Minimum

$31.25

Median

$55.29

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,927

Minimum

$40,825

Median

$93,062

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$22.50

Minimum

$43.80

Median

$66.20

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Retail and wholesale trade managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of companies that sell merchandise or services on a retail or wholesale basis. Retail and wholesale trade managers work for retail and wholesale sales companies or they may own and operate their own store.

Job duties

Retail and wholesale trade managers:

  • Manage the operations of businesses involved in wholesale and retail sales or of departments in such companies.
  • Manage staff and assign duties.
  • Study market research and trends to determine customer demand, potential sales volumes and effect of competitors' operations on sales.
  • Determine merchandise and services to be sold and implement price and credit policies.
  • Locate, select and buy stock for resale.
  • Develop and implement marketing strategies.
  • Plan budgets and approve expenses.
  • Settle customer complaints.
  • Determine staffing requirements and hire or oversee hiring of staff.

Sample job titles

  • assistant manager
  • car dealership manager
  • customer service manager
  • department store manager
  • management trainee - retail
  • retail sales manager
  • retail store owner
  • supermarket manager
  • wholesale establishment manager

Skills

  • You need good organizational and managerial skills. Knowledge of your product and its markets is essential. An ability to work under pressure is important. You must be decisive. You need to work well with others. Effective spoken and written communication skills are important.

Job requirements

  • High school is needed.
  • May need a university degree or college diploma in business administration or other field related to the product or service being sold.

Other considerations

  • Several years of related retail sales experience at increasing levels of responsibility are usually necessary. There is some movement between managers in this group, depending on the product or service. They often work long hours including evenings and weekends.

By the numbers

Quick look

11,445

employed in 2016

93.0%

employed full-time

21.2%

self employed

43.7%
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56.3%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.3

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%
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59.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

44.9%

Halifax

$43,689 median annual income
17.0%

North Shore

$41,909 median annual income
13.7%

Annapolis Valley

$38,016 median annual income
13.4%

Southern

$37,126 median annual income
11.1%

Cape Breton

$38,365 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

83.6%

Retail trade

13.6%

Wholesale trade

0.5%

Other services (except public administration)

0.5%

Real estate and rental and leasing

0.3%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

45-54

23.0%

35-44

21.0%

55-64

17.0%

25-34

7.0%

65+

4.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

39.1%

High school

$39,840 median annual income
20.5%

College Diploma

$39,379 median annual income
18.0%

Bachelor

$46,932 median annual income
9.6%

Less than high school

$35,489 median annual income
8.3%

Trade Certification

$44,821 median annual income

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income
20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income
9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Organizational Leadership

College or University Program

These programs focus on leadership skills that can be applied to a business, government, non-profit, or educational setting. They include courses in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, finance, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication and other management skills.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Institute of Management - Maritimes
Various, NS
Retail Council of Canada
Dartmouth, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.