A Grim Long-Term Outlook for Retail Workers

For many of the millions of workers who toil in the nation's shops, malls and supermarkets, the changing face of retail isn't so pretty. Most retail workers are earning less than they were 35 years ago after adjusting for inflation, and experts say they're increasingly being asked to accept unpredictable schedules so retailers can get the most work out of them at the lowest cost. Even though the economy has been slowly improving, many expect those trends to continue because of steep competition to offer lower prices and a continued weak job market for low-wage workers.