Overall employment of textile, apparel, and furnishings workers is expected to decline rapidly through 2018, but outlook varies by detailed occupation. In addition to some employment growth in a few specialties, the vast majority of openings will stem from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation each year.
Employment in textile, apparel, and furnishing occupations is expected to decline by 15 percent between 2008 and 2018. Apparel workers have been among the most rapidly declining occupational groups in the economy. Increasing imports, the growing use of offshore assembly, and greater productivity through automation will contribute to additional job losses. Also, many new textiles require less production and processing.
Domestic production of apparel and textiles will continue to move abroad, and imports to the U.S. market are expected to increase. Fierce competition in the market for apparel will keep domestic apparel and textile firms under intense pressure to cut costs and produce more with fewer workers. Although the textile industry already is highly automated, it will continue to seek to increase worker productivity through the introduction of labor-saving machinery and the invention of new fibers and fabrics that reduce production costs. Technological developments, such as computer-aided marking and grading, computer-controlled cutters, semiautomatic sewing and pressing machines, and automated material-handling systems have increased output while reducing the need for some workers in larger firms.
Despite advances in technology, the apparel industry has had difficulty utilizing automated equipment for assembly tasks because of the delicate properties of many textiles. Also, the industry produces a wide variety of apparel items that change frequently with changes in style and season. Even so, increasing numbers of sewing machine operator jobs are expected to be lost to workers abroad. Employment of sewing machine operators is expected to decline rapidly by 34 percent.
Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers—the most skilled apparel workers—are expected to experience little or no change in employment. Most of these workers are self-employed or work in clothing stores. The demand for custom home furnishings and tailored clothes is diminishing in general, but remains steady in upscale stores and by certain clients. Designer apparel and other handmade goods also appeal to people looking for one-of-a-kind items.
Employment of shoe and leather workers and repairers is expected to decline rapidly by 14 percent through 2018 as a result of growing imports of less expensive shoes and leather goods and of increasing productivity of U.S. manufacturers. Also, buying new shoes often is cheaper than repairing worn or damaged ones.
Employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers is expected to grow 3 percent, slower than the average for all occupations. Many of these jobs continue to be locally-based, thus an expanding population will result in some employment growth.
Employment of upholsterers is expected to grow 7 percent, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by custom upholstery services, which is expected to increase as consumers seek to restore antique furniture and items with sentimental or intrinsic value.
The following table shows the projected growth rates from 2008 to 2018 for detailed textile and apparel manufacturing occupations:
| Occupation |
Percent |
|---|
| Upholsters |
7 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers |
3 |
| Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers |
-2 |
| Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials |
-8 |
| Sewers, hand |
-8 |
| Shoe and leather workers and repairers |
-14 |
| Fabric and apparel patternmakers |
-27 |
| Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders |
-31 |
| Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers |
-34 |
| Sewing machine operators |
-34 |
| Shoe machine operators and tenders |
-35 |
| Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders |
-39 |
| Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders |
-41 |
| Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders |
-45 |
| All other textile, apparel, and furnishings workers |
-13 |
Despite a rapid decline in overall employment, the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the occupation for other reasons will lead to numerous job openings. Relatively low earnings and poor working conditions will continue to result in a high job turnover.
Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers held 787,500 jobs in 2008. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up this group was distributed as follows:
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers |
235,400 |
| Sewing machine operators |
212,400 |
| Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials |
66,600 |
| Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers |
54,600 |
| Upholsters |
52,700 |
| Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders |
34,900 |
| Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders |
29,200 |
| Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders |
19,400 |
| Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders |
16,000 |
| Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers |
14,100 |
| Sewers, hand |
12,200 |
| Shoe and leather workers and repairers |
9,200 |
| Fabric and apparel patternmakers |
8,200 |
| Shoe machine operators and tenders |
4,800 |
| All other textile, apparel, and furnishings workers |
17,900 |
Many manufacturing jobs can be found in California, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Jobs in reupholstery, shoe repair and custom leatherwork, and laundry and dry-cleaning establishments are found in cities and towns throughout the Nation. Overall, about 11 percent of all workers in textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations were self-employed; however, about 43 percent of all tailors, dressmakers, and sewers and about 29 percent of all upholsterers were self-employed.
Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation
Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have gone through an apprenticeship program or several years of vocational training to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training, including both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Examples
Dental assistants, electricians, fish and game wardens, legal secretaries, personnel recruiters and recreational workers.
These occupations often involve using communication and organization skills to manage and train others.
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Information about job opportunities in textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations is available from local employers and local offices of State employment services.
For information on dry-cleaning occupations, contact:
- Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, 14700 Sweitzer Ln., Laurel, MD 20707. Internet: http://www.ifi.org
For information on textile and apparel manufacturing occupations, contact:
Sources: O*Net data version 12.0
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Department of Labor
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