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How many live roles in the retail sector involve AI?

26 of 332 live roles in the retail sector involve AI. 7.8% · of live roles that involve AI · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze. This count includes roles where AI is mentioned only in the employer's description of itself, not in the role.

Across 332 live retail specs from 10 employers in two markets, as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze. Each role is read on whether it involves AI, whether AI sits at the centre of the work, and whether the role is accountable for what the model produces.

Sectors · Retail · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze · live specs
Involved7.8%This count includes roles where AI is mentioned only in the employer's description of itself, not in the role.of live roles that involve AI · in the retail sector · 26 of 332 · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Central7 of 26of roles that involve AI where AI sits at the centre of the work · in the retail sector · 7 of 26 · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Accountable0 of 7of AI-central roles accountable for what the model produces · in the retail sector · 0 of 7 · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
The caveat that travels with every figure

Every figure on this page is for the retail sector in all markets unless a market is named. A market cell publishes where the sector has 10 or more employers in that market; under that it is held.

01

How many retail specifications involve AI

Rung one: 26 of 332 live roles in the retail sector involve AI, 7.8% of live roles that involve AI (live specs, as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze). This count includes roles where AI is mentioned only in the employer's description of itself, not in the role.

Rung two: of those 26 roles that involve AI, 7 have AI at the centre of the work.

Rung three: of those 7 AI-central roles, 0 are accountable for what the model produces.

Beside the ladder, as context and not as a rung, on the base of all live roles: 7 of 332 (2.1%) live roles in the retail sector are AI-central.

The three rungs, each on the rung before it
Retail · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Involvedof live roles that involve AI · base 332 live roles
7.8%
Centralof roles that involve AI where AI sits at the centre of the work · base 26 roles that involve AI
7 of 26
Accountableof AI-central roles accountable for what the model produces · base 7 AI-central roles
0 of 7
Source: Verellax workforce intelligence · 332 live specs · September 2026 · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
02

How retail compares across markets

In each market where retail has 10 or more employers, as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze: Australia, 26 of 318 (8.2%) live roles involve AI, and of those 7 of 26 have AI at the centre of the work. This count includes roles where AI is mentioned only in the employer's description of itself, not in the role.

The remaining 14 live retail specs come from employers in one other market and count toward the sector total.

Retail across markets, the first two rungs
markets where the sector has 10 or more employers · counts print under 30 · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Australia318 live · 10 employers
8.2%
7 of 26
Involve AI, of live rolesAI at the centre of the work, of roles that involve AI
Source: Verellax workforce intelligence · 332 live specs · September 2026 · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
03

Where AI lands by seniority in retail

Entry level: 0 of 123 (0.0%) live roles in the retail sector involve AI; of those, held have AI at the centre of the work.

Director and above: 1 of 10 live roles in the retail sector involve AI; of those, 0 of 1 have AI at the centre of the work.

As at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze. This count includes roles where AI is mentioned only in the employer's description of itself, not in the role.

The pathway, across markets
Where AI lands, entry level against director and above
Retail · counts print under 30 · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Entry level123 live · 0 involve AI
0.0% · 0 of 123
held
Director and above10 live · 1 involve AI
1 of 10
0 of 1
Involve AI, of live rolesAI at the centre of the work, of roles that involve AI
Source: Verellax workforce intelligence · 332 live specs · September 2026 · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
04

How AI-central retail roles read on the four tests

Every AI-central role is then read on four tests. The third rung is one of them.

Of 7 AI-central roles in the retail sector, as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze, each test on its own: works with the model, 0 of 7; can overrule it, 1 of 7; is accountable for what it produces, 0 of 7; keeps decisions over it, 2 of 7.

Beside the four tests, as context: 5 of 7 meet none of the four tests.

The four tests, each on AI-central roles
Retail · base 7 AI-central roles · live specs · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Works with the model
0 of 7
Can overrule it
1 of 7
Is accountable for what it produces
0 of 7
Keeps decisions over it
2 of 7

Beside the four tests: 5 of 7 meet none of the four tests.

Source: Verellax workforce intelligence · 332 live specs · September 2026 · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
05

How this is measured

Live specs. Employers are never named against a figure. Each role is read on whether it involves AI, whether AI sits at the centre of the work, and whether the role is accountable for what the model produces. Each rung's share is on the rung before it. A page publishes at 150 or more live specs. A cell under 30 prints its counts and no share; under 150 its count and base print beside its share. A sector cell inside a market publishes with 10 or more employers in it, and is held under that.

Full method at /method
Related pages
Source: Verellax workforce intelligence · 332 live specs · September 2026 · as at 24 September 2026, W39 weekly freeze
Figures re-render each Monday from that week's pack. The Index re-answers the question each quarter.