Description
Cashiers operate cash registers, optical price scanners, computers or other equipment to record and accept payment for the purchase of goods, services and admissions. They are employed in stores, restaurants, theatres, recreational and sports establishments, currency exchange booths, government offices, business offices and other service, retail and wholesale establishments.
Job Titles
- Box office cashier
- Cafeteria cashier
- Grocery store cashier
- Movie theatre cashier
- Office cashier
- Racetrack cashier
- Self-serve gas bar cashier
Main Duties
- Greet customers
- Establish or identify price of goods, services or admission and tabulate total payment required using electronic or other cash register, optical price scanner or other equipment
- Weigh produce and bulk foods
- Receive and process payments by cash, cheque, credit card or automatic debit
- Wrap or place merchandise in bags
- Provide information to customers
- Assist sports spectators and theatre patrons with seat selection
- Calculate foreign currency exchange
- Calculate total payments received at end of work shift and reconcile with total sales
- Verify the age of customers when selling lottery tickets, alcohol or tobacco products
- May accept reservations and take-out orders
- May also stock shelves and clean check-out counter area.
Workplaces
- Business offices and other services
- Currency exchange booths
- Government offices
- Recreational and sports establishments
- Restaurants
- Retail and wholesale establishments
- Stores
- Theatres
Skills
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Numeracy
- Oral Communication: Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordinating
Abilities
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Body Flexibility
- Dynamic Strength
- Finger Dexterity
- Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
Personal Attributes
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Concern for Others
- Independence
Similar Occupations
- Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers (64100)
- Customer services representatives – financial institutions (64400)
- Service station attendants (65101)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be good for Cashiers (65100) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
- A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
- High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.
The majority of cashiers work in grocery stores and other retail establishments, but a significant number also work in limited-service restaurants. There are some factors that may have a small moderating effect on employment growth for cashiers over the forecast period. The increasing use of self-checkout machines, especially in chain retail and grocery stores, as well as the growing popularity of online shopping are expected to temper employment growth.
Part-time work is common in this occupation. The prevalence of part-time work, coupled with the low educational requirements for this occupation make it particularly attractive to student and youth (aged 15-24) workers. Employment in this occupation is seasonal, with more opportunities in the months leading up to the holiday season. This is a large occupational group in P.E.I. with a large employer base. As with most large occupations, there will be frequent job openings due to turnover and workers changing jobs. This occupation is also an excellent source of summer and part-time employment for students.
Opportunities will be best for individuals with experience as a cashier or in customer service. A flexible schedule, as well as a willingness to work longer hours, especially during peak retail periods, may also improve job prospects.
Here are some key facts about Cashiers in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 1,550 people work in this occupation.
- Cashiers mainly work in the following sectors:
- Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 53%
- Food and beverage stores (NAICS 445): 30%
- Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 9%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 40% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 60% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 43% of cashiers work all year, while 56% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 36 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- Less than 5% of cashiers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 22% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 78% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: 27% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 49% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 13% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 6% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $15.00 | $15.00 | $16.00 |
| Canada | $14.00 | $15.00 | $18.00 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.