AS Watson says it will create 200,000 job openings for young people globally by 2030 – a response to the challenge of youth unemployment and the impact of Covid 19 on labour markets in some of the countries it has stores in.

The group says its goal is to provide opportunities, skills, and experiences to young people from all over the world in order to prepare them for the fast-changing business landscape and to jumpstart their careers in retail.

Jobs will be available in various areas of our business, including retail, corporate, and distribution, and will range from customer marketing, digital development, e-commerce, analytics, finance, and sustainability.

AS Watson Group’s people director (Europe), Joanne Mackie, said the company will provide training and coaching to young people to equip them with the skills needed to work in the new world of online and offline retail. The company intends to provide 5 million training hours to youth in our global workforce in order for them to embrace the future.

“Young people are an important source of talents and creativity. By developing their skills, we can make our business stronger and fitter for the future,” she said. 

AS Watson has invested in a variety of employee development programs, including the Superdrug and Savers Apprenticeship Scheme in the UK, the Kruidvat program in the Netherlands, and the Retail Management program in Hong Kong.

The group also wants to inspire young people to participate in environmental initiatives. AS Watson established the “Next Gen” Sustainability Committee, which comprises 18 Gen Y and Gen Z team members from the company’s 12 operating markets in Asia and Europe, who work with the Global Sustainability Committee on sustainability projects.