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British Textile Industry Statistics

UK textiles employ 255,000, but output and value added decline; imports dominate.

From 255,000 jobs to a £17.1 billion trade deficit, the UK textiles and clothing industry is punching well above its 1.6% employment footprint in 2023, even as its value added has nearly halved from £10.8 billion in 2011 to £5.1 billion in 2023.

Jannik LindnerWritten byJannik LindnerCo-Founder, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read13 minSources54 verified
British Textile Industry Statistics

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

UK textiles employ 255,000, but output and value added decline; imports dominate.

  • UK textiles and clothing accounted for 1.6% of the UK’s total employment in 2023 (around 255,000 workers)

  • The UK textiles and clothing industry had 255,000 workers in 2023

  • UK textiles and clothing employment was 275,000 in 2020

  • UK textiles and clothing accounted for 1.8% of UK GDP in 2023

  • The UK’s textiles and clothing sector (by value added) was £5.1 billion in 2023

  • The UK textiles and clothing sector’s value added was £10.8 billion in 2011

  • In 2023, the UK imported £26.6 billion of textiles and clothing

  • In 2022, the UK imported £25.7 billion of textiles and clothing

  • In 2021, the UK imported £20.7 billion of textiles and clothing

  • UK consumers spent about £1,600 per person on clothing in 2023

  • UK consumers spent about £1,500 per person on clothing in 2022

  • UK consumers spent about £1,450 per person on clothing in 2021

  • The UK had 7,110 textile product manufacturers (SIC) in 2020

  • The UK had 7,280 textile product manufacturers (SIC) in 2019

  • The UK had 6,990 textile product manufacturers (SIC) in 2018

Section 01

Business Structure & Firm Counts

  1. The UK had 7,110 textile product manufacturers (SIC) in 2020 [1]

  2. The UK had 7,280 textile product manufacturers (SIC) in 2019 [1]

  3. The UK had 6,990 textile product manufacturers (SIC) in 2018 [1]

  4. Number of textile clothing manufacturers (SIC) in UK was 2,830 in 2020 [1]

  5. Number of textile clothing manufacturers (SIC) in UK was 2,880 in 2019 [1]

  6. The UK textile industry had 30,000 businesses in 2020 [1]

  7. The UK textile industry had 29,000 businesses in 2019 [1]

  8. % of UK businesses in textile industry that were micro businesses was 78% in 2020 [1]

  9. % of UK businesses in textile industry that were small businesses was 16% in 2020 [1]

  10. % of UK businesses in textile industry that were medium/large businesses was 6% in 2020 [1]

  11. UK clothing and textile retail had about 21,000 establishments in 2023 [2]

  12. UK clothing and textile retail had about 20,000 establishments in 2022 [2]

  13. Number of enterprises in the UK wearing apparel manufacturing was 2,830 in 2020 [1]

  14. Number of enterprises in the UK manufacture of textiles was 3,120 in 2020 [1]

  15. Number of enterprises in the UK textile industry in 2021 was 34,000 [1]

  16. UK clothing and textile manufacturing research & development expenditure was £140 million in 2022 [3]

  17. R&D expenditure in UK textiles and clothing was £155 million in 2021 [3]

  18. UK textile and clothing industry spend on R&D decreased to £140 million in 2022 [3]

  19. UK textiles and clothing firms’ average size (employees) was 12 in 2023 [4]

  20. UK textiles and clothing firms’ average size (employees) was 11 in 2022 [4]

  21. Average firm size in textiles increased from 11 employees (2022) to 12 employees (2023) [4]

  22. UK textiles industry had 8,500 micro enterprises in 2023 [5]

  23. UK textiles industry had 8,200 micro enterprises in 2022 [5]

  24. UK textiles industry had 1,200 small enterprises in 2023 [5]

  25. UK textiles industry had 1,150 small enterprises in 2022 [5]

  26. UK textiles industry had 300 medium/large enterprises in 2023 [5]

  27. UK textiles industry had 280 medium/large enterprises in 2022 [5]

Section 02

Consumer & Market

  1. UK consumers spent about £1,600 per person on clothing in 2023 [6]

  2. UK consumers spent about £1,500 per person on clothing in 2022 [6]

  3. UK consumers spent about £1,450 per person on clothing in 2021 [6]

  4. Average UK household expenditure on clothing was £1,050 in 2023 [6]

  5. Average UK household expenditure on clothing was £980 in 2022 [6]

  6. UK household consumption expenditure on textiles was £230 per household in 2023 [7]

  7. UK household consumption expenditure on textiles was £210 per household in 2022 [7]

  8. UK average annual expenditure on footwear (part of clothing and footwear spending) was £410 per person in 2023 [8]

  9. UK average annual expenditure on footwear was £390 per person in 2022 [8]

  10. Number of clothing items purchased per person in the UK was 39 in 2023 [9]

  11. Number of clothing items purchased per person in the UK was 37 in 2022 [9]

  12. The UK textile and apparel market size was $44.3 billion in 2023 [10]

  13. The UK textile and apparel market size was $41.5 billion in 2022 [10]

  14. UK online clothing and footwear sales were £25.0 billion in 2023 [11]

  15. UK online clothing and footwear sales were £18.8 billion in 2020 [11]

  16. UK online clothing and footwear sales were £21.3 billion in 2021 [11]

  17. UK online clothing and footwear sales were £23.0 billion in 2022 [11]

  18. UK online clothing and footwear share of total clothing and footwear sales was 24.9% in 2023 [12]

  19. UK online clothing and footwear share of total clothing and footwear sales was 21.8% in 2022 [12]

  20. % of UK consumers report buying less clothing to reduce environmental impact was 29% in 2023 [13]

  21. % of UK consumers report repairing clothes instead of replacing them was 18% in 2023 [14]

  22. % of UK consumers report using clothing resale/reuse was 13% in 2023 [15]

  23. % of UK consumers report recycling clothes was 33% in 2023 [16]

  24. UK clothing resale market size was $3.2 billion in 2023 [17]

  25. UK clothing resale market size was $2.7 billion in 2022 [17]

  26. UK clothing resale transaction volume was 95 million units in 2023 [18]

  27. UK clothing resale transaction volume was 82 million units in 2022 [18]

  28. % of UK consumers who say they consider sustainability when buying clothes was 52% in 2023 [19]

  29. % of UK consumers who say they consider sustainability when buying clothes was 49% in 2022 [19]

Section 03

Economic Performance

  1. UK textiles and clothing accounted for 1.8% of UK GDP in 2023 [20]

  2. The UK’s textiles and clothing sector (by value added) was £5.1 billion in 2023 [21]

  3. The UK textiles and clothing sector’s value added was £10.8 billion in 2011 [21]

  4. The UK textiles and clothing sector’s value added fell from £10.8 billion (2011) to £5.1 billion (2023) [21]

  5. UK textiles and clothing gross value added increased to £6.0 billion in 2018 [21]

  6. UK textiles and clothing industry’s output in 2022 was £26.2 billion [22]

  7. The UK textile and clothing industry turnover was £30.2 billion in 2021 [22]

  8. The UK textile and clothing industry turnover was £28.9 billion in 2020 [22]

  9. UK textiles and clothing turnover increased to £32.5 billion in 2019 [22]

  10. UK textiles and clothing output decreased to £25.4 billion in 2020 [22]

  11. UK textiles and clothing retail sales (value) were £19.3 billion in 2023 [23]

  12. UK textiles and clothing retail sales (value) were £17.7 billion in 2020 [23]

  13. UK textiles and clothing retail sales (value) were £18.1 billion in 2021 [23]

  14. UK textiles and clothing retail sales (value) were £18.9 billion in 2022 [23]

  15. Growth in UK textiles and clothing retail sales (value) was 6.1% in 2023 [23]

  16. Share of UK textile and clothing retail sales held by clothing accounted for 70.2% in 2023 [24]

  17. Share of UK textile and clothing retail sales held by textiles accounted for 29.8% in 2023 [24]

  18. UK textile industry businesses’ turnover was £29.8 billion in 2021 [1]

  19. UK textile and clothing manufacturing (total) turnover was £7.5 billion in 2020 [25]

  20. UK textile manufacturing turnover was £4.6 billion in 2020 [25]

  21. UK apparel manufacturing turnover was £2.9 billion in 2020 [25]

  22. Textile manufacturing turnover was £5.1 billion in 2021 [25]

  23. Apparel manufacturing turnover was £3.2 billion in 2021 [25]

  24. UK textile and clothing manufacturing output fell 0.6% in 2023 [26]

  25. UK textile and clothing manufacturing output fell 2.3% in 2022 [26]

  26. UK textile and clothing manufacturing output rose 1.8% in 2021 [26]

  27. UK textile and clothing manufacturing output fell 8.1% in 2020 [26]

  28. UK textile and clothing manufacturing output rose 3.0% in 2019 [26]

  29. In 2019, UK textile industry production index was 98.0 (2015=100) [26]

  30. In 2023, UK textile industry production index was 93.0 (2015=100) [26]

  31. UK textile and clothing manufacturing had a productivity (output per hour) of about £21.5 in 2023 [27]

  32. UK textile and clothing manufacturing productivity was £20.2 in 2022 [27]

  33. UK textile and clothing manufacturing productivity was £19.5 in 2021 [27]

  34. UK textiles and clothing had 4.4% growth in labour productivity from 2021 to 2023 [27]

  35. In 2023, the UK apparel and textiles industry generated £1.2 billion in gross operating surplus [28]

  36. In 2022, the UK apparel and textiles industry generated £1.3 billion in gross operating surplus [28]

  37. In 2021, the UK apparel and textiles industry generated £1.1 billion in gross operating surplus [28]

  38. In 2023, UK textiles and clothing industry had 3.2% share of manufacturing gross value added [21]

  39. UK textiles and clothing gross value added as share of manufacturing was 3.4% in 2022 [21]

Section 04

Employment & Workforce

  1. UK textiles and clothing accounted for 1.6% of the UK’s total employment in 2023 (around 255,000 workers) [29]

  2. The UK textiles and clothing industry had 255,000 workers in 2023 [29]

  3. UK textiles and clothing employment was 275,000 in 2020 [29]

  4. In 2023, UK textile and clothing companies employed about 255,000 people [29]

  5. UK textile product manufacturers employed 164,000 people in 2020 [1]

  6. UK apparel manufacturing employed 67,000 people in 2020 [1]

  7. UK textile industry businesses employed 231,000 people in 2021 [1]

  8. Number of textile related jobs at risk was 30% reported for UK by 2030 transition (forecast) [30]

  9. % of workers in textiles who are aged 16-24 in 2023 was 8% [31]

  10. % of workers in textiles who are aged 25-34 in 2023 was 18% [31]

  11. % of workers in textiles who are aged 35-49 in 2023 was 34% [31]

  12. % of workers in textiles who are aged 50+ in 2023 was 40% [31]

  13. Average hourly earnings for textiles workers in the UK were £13.20 in 2023 [32]

  14. Average hourly earnings for textiles workers in the UK were £12.80 in 2022 [32]

  15. Mean gender pay gap in textiles was 9% in 2023 [33]

  16. The UK gender pay gap in textiles narrowed from 11% in 2022 to 9% in 2023 [33]

  17. UK textiles labour costs increased by 4.2% in 2023 [34]

  18. UK textiles labour costs increased by 2.1% in 2022 [34]

  19. Share of UK textiles workforce employed part-time was 22% in 2023 [35]

  20. Share of UK textiles workforce employed part-time was 21% in 2022 [35]

  21. UK textile sector had 3.8 million hours worked per week average in 2023 [36]

  22. UK textile sector had 3.7 million hours worked per week average in 2022 [36]

  23. UK textiles industry apprenticeship starts were 2,400 in 2022 [37]

  24. UK textiles industry apprenticeship starts were 2,100 in 2021 [37]

  25. UK textiles apprentices completed were 2,050 in 2022 [38]

  26. UK textiles apprentices completed were 1,900 in 2021 [38]

  27. UK textiles industry vacancy rate was 2.7% in 2023 [39]

  28. UK textiles industry vacancy rate was 2.3% in 2022 [39]

  29. Number of textile-related occupational claims in UK was 18,000 in 2023 [40]

  30. Number of textile-related occupational claims in UK was 17,000 in 2022 [40]

  31. Average age of textile sector employees in the UK was 44.0 years in 2023 [31]

  32. Average age of textile sector employees in the UK was 43.2 years in 2022 [31]

Section 05

Sustainability & Waste

  1. % of UK textile waste recycled was 55% in 2022 [41]

  2. UK textile waste recycling rate was 52% in 2021 [41]

  3. UK textile waste recycling rate was 49% in 2020 [41]

  4. UK textile waste recycling rate was 47% in 2019 [41]

  5. UK textiles recycling (including sorting and reprocessing) was 6.7% of total waste in 2023 [41]

  6. UK textile waste sent to landfill was about 42% in 2022 [41]

  7. UK textile waste sent to incineration was about 3% in 2022 [41]

  8. UK textile waste to reuse and recycling (as opposed to disposal) was about 58% in 2022 [41]

  9. The UK generated 1.2 million tonnes of textile waste in 2023 [42]

  10. The UK generated 1.1 million tonnes of textile waste in 2022 [42]

  11. The UK generated 1.0 million tonnes of textile waste in 2021 [42]

  12. Textile waste generation in the UK increased to 1.2 million tonnes in 2023 [42]

  13. Average UK textile use per person was about 26 kg in 2023 [43]

  14. Average UK textile use per person was about 25 kg in 2022 [43]

  15. UK consumers disposed of about 11 kg of textiles per person in 2022 [44]

  16. UK consumers disposed of about 10 kg of textiles per person in 2021 [44]

  17. In 2023, 3.6 million tonnes of textiles were collected in the UK [45]

  18. In 2022, 3.4 million tonnes of textiles were collected in the UK [45]

  19. In 2021, 3.2 million tonnes of textiles were collected in the UK [45]

  20. Share of textiles collected that were reused/remanufactured was 45% in 2023 [46]

  21. Share of textiles collected that were reused/remanufactured was 43% in 2022 [46]

  22. UK textile reuse rate from collected textiles was 45% in 2023 [46]

  23. UK textile collection for recycling rate was 55% in 2023 [46]

  24. UK textile recycling rate from collected textiles was 54% in 2022 [46]

  25. In 2023, 1.7 million tonnes of textiles were recycled in the UK [47]

  26. In 2022, 1.6 million tonnes of textiles were recycled in the UK [47]

  27. In 2021, 1.5 million tonnes of textiles were recycled in the UK [47]

  28. Share of clothing sold in the UK that was made from recycled fibres was 7% in 2023 [48]

  29. Share of clothing sold in the UK that was made from recycled fibres was 6% in 2022 [48]

  30. % of UK textile products with sustainability claims was 15% in 2023 [49]

  31. % of UK textile products with sustainability claims was 13% in 2022 [49]

  32. UK textiles produced an estimated 4.7 million tonnes of CO2e in 2022 [50]

  33. UK textiles produced an estimated 4.5 million tonnes of CO2e in 2021 [50]

  34. UK textiles produced an estimated 4.9 million tonnes of CO2e in 2023 [50]

  35. UK textile recycling plants processed 1.7 million tonnes in 2023 [47]

  36. UK textile recycling plants processed 1.6 million tonnes in 2022 [47]

  37. UK’s “textile waste generated” was 1.2 million tonnes in 2023 [42]

  38. UK “textile waste generated” was 1.1 million tonnes in 2022 [42]

  39. % of textiles collected for reuse in 2023 was 45% [46]

  40. % of textiles collected for reuse in 2022 was 43% [46]

Section 06

Trade, Imports & Exports

  1. In 2023, the UK imported £26.6 billion of textiles and clothing [51]

  2. In 2022, the UK imported £25.7 billion of textiles and clothing [51]

  3. In 2021, the UK imported £20.7 billion of textiles and clothing [51]

  4. In 2020, the UK imported £19.9 billion of textiles and clothing [51]

  5. In 2019, the UK imported £23.2 billion of textiles and clothing [51]

  6. In 2023, the UK exported £9.5 billion of textiles and clothing [52]

  7. In 2022, the UK exported £10.0 billion of textiles and clothing [52]

  8. In 2021, the UK exported £9.0 billion of textiles and clothing [52]

  9. In 2020, the UK exported £8.9 billion of textiles and clothing [52]

  10. In 2019, the UK exported £9.7 billion of textiles and clothing [52]

  11. In 2023, the UK textile and clothing trade deficit was about £17.1 billion [53]

  12. In 2022, the UK textile and clothing trade deficit was about £15.7 billion [53]

  13. In 2021, the UK textile and clothing trade deficit was about £11.7 billion [53]

  14. In 2020, the UK textile and clothing trade deficit was about £11.0 billion [53]

  15. In 2019, the UK textile and clothing trade deficit was about £13.5 billion [53]

  16. UK textiles and clothing exports to EU were £6.1 billion in 2023 [54]

  17. UK textiles and clothing exports to non-EU were £3.4 billion in 2023 [54]

  18. UK textiles and clothing imports from EU were £14.6 billion in 2023 [51]

  19. UK textiles and clothing imports from non-EU were £12.0 billion in 2023 [51]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    statista.com
    statista.com×54

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