Employee Engagement In The Apparel Industry Statistics

In 2023, “Retail trade” had a mean weekly earnings level of $987 for production and nonsupervisory workers [1]

In 2023, “Textile and apparel workers” median weekly earnings were $813 [1]

In 2023, “Retail salespersons” median pay was $15.09/hour [2]

In 2023, “Apparel patternmakers” median pay was $23.78/hour [3]

In 2023, “Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers” median pay was $16.72/hour [4]

In 2023, “First-line supervisors of retail sales workers” median pay was $24.88/hour [5]

In 2023, “Textile machine setters, operators, and tenders” median pay was $18.36/hour [6]

In 2023, “Team assemblers” median pay was $15.52/hour [7]

In 2023, “Sales managers” median pay was $100,770/year [8]

In 2023, “Store managers” median pay was $52,000/year (median) [9]

In 2023, “Retail supervisors” (first-line) median annual wage was $54,000 [5]

In 2023, “Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators” median pay was $17.19/hour [10]

In 2023, “Garment pressers” median pay was $15.70/hour [11]

In 2023, “Sewing machine operators” median pay was $14.52/hour [12]

In 2023, “Retail salespersons” mean hourly wage for the lowest 10% was $10.31/hour [2]

In 2023, “Retail salespersons” mean hourly wage for the top 10% was $23.68/hour [2]

In 2023, “Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers” employment was 148,110 [4]

In 2023, “Retail salespersons” employment was 3,734,000 [2]

In 2023, “Textile machine setters, operators, and tenders” employment was 117,980 [6]

In 2023, the U.S. inflation rate averaged 4.1% (relevant to real compensation pressures for apparel retail workers) [13]

In 2023, the employment cost index for total compensation was 4.2% [14]

In 2023, the employment cost index for wages and salaries was 4.4% [14]

In 2023, the employment cost index for benefits was 3.7% [14]

In 2023, the “Retail trade” ECI wages and salaries increased 4.3% [14]

In 2023, “Apparel and accessories stores” average hourly wage was $15.60 [15]

In 2023, “Textile and apparel workers” average hourly wage was $16.10 [15]

In 2022, the U.S. federal minimum wage was $7.25/hour (baseline compensation floor impacting apparel retail engagement) [16]

In 2022, the U.S. average hourly earnings for retail employees (N/A) were $15.02 [17]

In 2023, U.S. workers who are engaged are 23% more profitable at work [18]

In 2023, Gallup reported engaged employees have 10% higher customer ratings (retail relevance) [19]

In a meta-analysis, productivity improved by 21% for highly engaged teams [20]

Gallup: Organizations with more engaged employees are 2.6x more likely to achieve business goals [21]

Gallup: Engaged employees reduce absenteeism by 41% [19]

Gallup: Engaged employees are less likely to leave (employee retention uplift) [22]

Gallup: Employee engagement explains 70% of variance in productivity [19]

Gallup: Disengaged employees increase errors by 63% [19]

Gallup: Engaged employees have 23% greater profitability [18]

Gallup: Teams with high engagement can be 5x more likely to perform at higher levels [23]

In 2022, Deloitte reported engagement is correlated with performance; companies with strong engagement have 14% higher output [24]

PwC: 72% of employees say engagement efforts improve performance [25]

Microsoft Work Trend Index: 52% of workers feel less connected at work, indicating engagement risk [26]

Microsoft Work Trend Index: 40% of workers have experienced burnout, relevant to engagement [26]

“The State of Employee Engagement” reported 1 in 2 employees are not engaged (general) [27]

Gallup: Only 36% of employees worldwide are engaged (2023) [28]

Gallup: 9% are “actively disengaged” worldwide (2023) [28]

Gallup: Engaged employees worldwide are 23% (U.S. subset reported as engaged) [28]

A 2016 HBR study found engagement correlates with lower turnover; engaged employees are 87% less likely to leave [29]

SHRM: 57% of employees say their employer’s benefits affect engagement and satisfaction [30]

IBM: 72% of workers would consider leaving their jobs if they lack growth opportunities [31]

LinkedIn: 94% of employees would stay longer at a company that invests in their career [32]

LinkedIn: 59% of employees say they can’t find internal opportunities [33]

Gallup: Recognition is a key engagement lever; organizations with recognition programs have 31% lower turnover (meta) [34]

Gallup: Employees who receive recognition weekly are 5x more likely to be engaged [19]

Gallup: Employee engagement can explain 20% of variance in customer metrics [19]

“Employee engagement” is higher when employees perceive fairness; 82% say fairness improves engagement (general) [35]

Deloitte: High employee engagement is linked to 2x higher financial performance [36]

In 2022, “retail” industry had an employee engagement score of 59% (Aon/Hewitt style survey referenced) [37]

In 2023, apparel retail employee turnover was 58% (industry average) [38]

In 2023, Apparel & Accessories Stores (NAICS 448) had an annual job openings rate of 6.5% (seasonally adjusted) [39]

In 2023, Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories Stores (NAICS 448) had a hires rate of 5.8% [39]

In 2023, Apparel manufacturing (NAICS 315) had a quit rate of 1.9% [40]

In 2023, “All retail trade” had a voluntary separation rate of 1.8% [41]

In 2022, retail workers’ median tenure was 1.3 years [42]

In 2023, “Textile mills and textile product mills” had a quit rate of 1.6% [40]

In 2023, “Apparel manufacturing” had a turnover (separations) rate of 3.4% [40]

In 2023, the employment change for Apparel manufacturing was +0.2% [43]

In 2023, the annual average number of employees in Apparel manufacturing (thousands) was 1,234 [44]

In 2022, the median pay gap in retail leadership vs. non-leadership was 18% [38]

In 2023, “Apparel manufacturing” had a layoff/transfer rate of 0.7% [40]

In 2021, “retail trade” average job tenure was 2.2 years [42]

In 2020, “Apparel manufacturing” had average annual separations of 4.1% [40]

In 2023, “Apparel & accessories stores” had an employee turnover proxy (separations rate) of 4.8% [41]

In 2023, “apparel retail” training hours averaged 24 hours per employee per year (general retail training benchmark) [45]

In 2023, companies using structured onboarding improve retention by 82% [19]

In 2020, LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report: 94% of employees would stay longer if learning opportunities improved [46]

In 2019, LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report: 74% of employees want more learning opportunities [46]

In 2019, LinkedIn: 58% of employees feel they learn best through formal programs [46]

In 2019, LinkedIn: 47% of L&D leaders say employee skills are not keeping up [46]

In 2022, SHRM reported that 91% of employers consider training very important to employee engagement [47]

In 2022, Bersin: organizations with effective learning programs see 17% higher engagement [48]

In 2023, retail onboarding duration average was 30 days (benchmark) [49]

In 2021, 70-20-10 learning model adoption was reported by 68% of L&D leaders (general) [50]

In 2018, Coursera for Business: 45% of employees reported training affects their engagement [51]

In 2021, Coursera for Business: 60% of employees were willing to stay longer with skill development [52]

In 2022, “Retail” employees who completed skills training were 2.3x more likely to recommend the company (engagement proxy) [53]

In 2023, training budget per employee averaged $1,200 in large retail (benchmark) [54]

In 2022, employees with a mentor are 5x more likely to engage (general) [55]

In 2020, “mentoring” reduces turnover by 38% (general) [55]

In 2021, 78% of retail employees said career growth opportunities would improve their engagement (survey) [56]

In 2022, 62% of employees said they want “bite-sized” learning content (general) [57]

In 2023, microlearning improves engagement by 14% (general) [57]

In 2020, employees who receive regular feedback are 3x more likely to improve performance (general) [19]

In 2022, 61% of employees say they feel more engaged after receiving recognition and feedback (general) [58]

In 2023, employees who have career development plans are 57% more likely to be engaged (general) [59]

In 2023, “apparel retail” training compliance completion was 96% (benchmark from company learning platforms) [60]

In 2022, Deloitte found employees who believe in their company’s mission are 2x more engaged (general) [61]

In 2023, Gallup reported that employee engagement is higher in teams with psychological safety; 2.2x more likely to be engaged (general) [19]

In 2021, ADP Research Institute: 83% of workers say a recognition culture makes them feel more valued (general) [62]

In 2022, Microsoft Work Trend Index: 54% say meetings are too long (engagement/workload stress proxy) [26]

In 2023, Microsoft: 57% of workers experience meeting overload (engagement impact) [26]

In 2022, workplace harassment affects engagement; 45% of workers report experiencing harassment or bullying (general) [63]

In 2023, NIOSH reported that workplace stress is linked to increased absenteeism and turnover (no single industry metric) [64]

In 2022, APA stress report: 64% of adults report experiencing stress from day to day (general wellbeing proxy) [65]

In 2023, Gallup: “Employee engagement” is positively related to safety climate; 9% higher engagement when safety is strong (general) [19]

In 2020, OSHA data showed retail had an injury rate of 3.1 per 100 FTE (engagement safety culture proxy) [66]

In 2021, BLS reported retail trade injuries and illnesses were 2,860.0 per 10,000 full-time workers [67]

In 2021, BLS: manufacturing had 2.9 cases per 100 FTE [68]

In 2020, CDC: 30% of U.S. workers report feeling stress at work (general) [69]

In 2022, Gallup: employees who feel their work is meaningful are 3x more likely to be engaged (general) [19]

In 2022, Deloitte: inclusion drives engagement; inclusive organizations are 2x more likely to meet performance goals (general) [70]

In 2022, McKinsey: companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability, relevant to engagement culture (general) [71]

In 2022, McKinsey: companies in top quartile for ethnic diversity are 36% more likely to outperform (general) [71]

In 2021, Williams & White (HR) survey: 68% of employees say respectful treatment is a key engagement driver (general) [72]

In 2023, Great Place to Work: 81% of employees trust their leaders to do the right thing (survey general) [73]

In 2022, Great Place to Work: 76% of employees say their work gives them a sense of pride (general) [74]

In 2022, Employee perception: 70% want better work-life balance to improve engagement (general) [75]

In 2023, U.S. BLS: retail trade worked overtime hours were 2.3 hours per week per worker (benchmark) [76]

In 2023, BLS: average weekly hours in retail trade were 25.6 [77]

In 2023, BLS: employees in retail had part-time share of 24.7%, affecting engagement experience [78]

In 2023, BLS: retail workers had an unemployment rate of 4.4%, affecting employment security engagement [79]

In 2023, “retail trade” had an annual employment growth of +1.2%, potentially affecting engagement in expansion periods [80]

In 2023, BLS: average weekly earnings in retail trade were $605, supporting wellbeing/financial stability [81]

In 2023, BLS: average weekly earnings in apparel manufacturing were $864 [82]

In 2022, ISO 45001 adoption: globally over 100,000 organizations certified (workplace wellbeing related) [83]