FAQ: Understanding the 2025 Retail Threat Landscape
Michael Evanoff
Chief Security Officer and Global Advisor, Verkada
A deep dive into data from 1,000 retail workers highlights a sharp rise in violence toward retail workers.
Summary:
New data indicates a critical disconnect between retail loss prevention strategies and employee safety. According to the 2025 State of Retail Safety Report, while theft remains a primary concern, physical violence against associates has reached alarming levels. The study reveals a 57% year-over-year increase in physical assaults, driving a labor crisis where 52% of workers are considering leaving their jobs due to safety concerns.
Date: 2025
Source: Verkada & Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) 2025 State of Retail Safety Report
Sample Size: 1,000 U.S. Retail Workers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is retail actually becoming more dangerous, or is it just perception?
A. The data indicates it is both. This year, 35% of retail workers reported feeling unsafe at work, a significant rise from 27% just one year ago.
This fear is grounded in a harsh reality. While theft and verbal harassment remain the most pervasive concerns, retail workers report a clear spike in exposure to physical violence:
Physical assaults: reports increased 57% year-over-year
Aggressive behavior by current coworkers: reports increased 53% year-over-year
Aggressive behavior by past employees/candidates: reports increased 47% year-over-year
Q. Who is bearing the brunt of this violence?
A. The 2025 data shows distinct divides regarding gender, generation, and role:
Gender: Men are now reporting higher rates of violence than women across nearly every category. Consequently, 63% of men are considering quitting due to safety, compared to 39% of women.
Generation: Younger workers bear the brunt of customer aggression. 58% of Millennials and 54% of Gen Z report aggressive encounters, significantly higher than older cohorts.
Role: Cashiers report the highest volume of verbal threats (63%), likely due to enforcing payment and return policies.
Q: How are safety concerns impacting retail retention and hiring?
A: Safety is now a key driver of employee turnover. 52% of retail workers state they are likely to leave their current role in the next 12 months specifically due to safety concerns. This has created a hiring bottleneck, with 49% of managers citing safety reputation as a barrier to recruiting new talent (up from 37% in 2024).
Q. Are "hard" security measures like locked cabinets helping?
A. While 77% of workers say their workplaces use physical theft-prevention measures (such as locked cabinets and gated exits), these tools receive mixed reviews from staff and customers.
Inefficiency: 46% of workers find locked cabinets/gates more disruptive than effective.
Customer Frustration: 56% of U.S. adults say these tools frustrate them.
Violence Correlation: Stores with physical theft prevention tools report higher aggregate rates of violence than those without.
Drives Consumers Online: 74% of U.S. adults say certain theft-prevention measures like locked cabinets and gated checkouts make them less likely to shop in-store.
Q. What security solutions do employees actually want?
A. Frontline retail workers overwhelmingly prefer visibility and human support over physical barriers. When asked what provides the "most peace of mind":
Video Security Monitoring: 49%
On-site Security Guards: 44%
Alarm Systems: 38%
Q. What is the path forward for retailers?
A. Data suggest retailers should prioritize tools that enhance situational awareness.
There is optimism among the workforce: 73% of workers believe theft could be prevented with better security measures, and 57% believe physical assaults could be prevented with better security measures.
The blueprint for success involves listening to the frontline workers who overwhelmingly prefer video monitoring and human support over physical barriers that escalate customer frustration.
Key Takeaways for Security Leaders
Security Moves Beyond the Bottom Line: Retail crime is no longer just impacting loss prevention and the bottom line on a retailer’s balance sheet; it is a foundational operational threat. With 52% of workers stating they are likely to leave their jobs in the next year due to safety concerns, and nearly half (49%) of managers citing safety as a barrier to hiring, ignoring the "fear factor" will directly impact business continuity.
High-Friction Deterrence Frustrates Customers and Employees: While 77% of retail workplaces utilize physical theft prevention measures like locked cabinets and gated exits, the data suggests these tools create a negative experience for everyone involved. Nearly half (46%) of retail workers find them more disruptive than effective, and 55% report that they reduce efficiency during busy periods. The sentiment is shared by shoppers, with 56% of U.S. adults reporting frustration with these measures.
Vulnerability is Uneven Across Demographics: The experience of violence varies significantly by gender and generation. Men are currently reporting higher rates of violence and are significantly more likely (63%) to consider quitting over safety than women (39%). Meanwhile, younger workers (Gen Z and Millennials) report significantly higher frequencies of aggressive encounters compared to older cohorts.
