Fashion Industry Employment Statistics

In Germany, employment in the textile and clothing industry was 201,000 in 2022 [1]

In Germany, employment in the textiles industry (textiles) was 52,000 in 2022 [2]

In Germany, employment in the clothing industry was 78,000 in 2022 [2]

In France, employment in textiles and apparel was 148,000 in 2022 [3]

In Italy, employment in textiles and apparel was 245,000 in 2022 [4]

In Spain, employment in textile and clothing industries was 150,000 in 2022 [5]

In Turkey, textile and apparel industry employs around 1.6 million people [6]

In Turkey, textile and apparel industry employs 1.6 million people [6]

In the EU, textiles and clothing workforce declined by 3.5% between 2008 and 2018 (EU est.) [7]

In the EU, leather and footwear employment decreased by 6.6% between 2008 and 2018 (EU est.) [7]

In the EU, average annual employment growth in textiles and clothing was -0.4% (2008-2018) [7]

In the EU, average annual employment growth in leather and footwear was -0.7% (2008-2018) [7]

In the European Union, employment in textiles, clothing, leather and related products was 3.0 million people in 2018 [7]

In the European Union, employment in textiles and clothing was 1.7 million people in 2018 [7]

In the European Union, employment in leather and footwear was 1.3 million people in 2018 [7]

In the European Union, textiles and clothing accounted for 0.7% of EU employment in 2018 [7]

In the EU, fashion-related employment share with respect to manufacturing employment was 3.3% in 2018 [7]

In the EU, the textiles and clothing sectors employed 1.4 million people in 2019 (estim.) [8]

In the EU, leather and footwear employed 0.3 million people in 2019 (estim.) [8]

In China, textile and apparel industry workers numbered 10.2 million in 2020 [9]

In Bangladesh, the ready-made garment (RMG) sector employs 4.2 million workers [10]

In Vietnam, the garment and textile industry employs about 2.5 million workers [11]

In India, the textiles and apparel sector employs 35 million people [12]

In Pakistan, the textiles and apparel sector employs about 15 million people [13]

In Indonesia, textiles and apparel sector employs about 2.9 million people [14]

In Sri Lanka, apparel industry employs around 300,000 workers [15]

In Cambodia, garments and footwear employ around 900,000 workers [16]

In Egypt, textile and apparel sector employs about 2.5 million people [17]

In Mexico, apparel and textile industry employs about 700,000 workers [18]

In the EU, textiles and clothing sector workforce was 3.0 million people (2018) [7]

In Bangladesh, RMG employs 4.2 million workers (approx) [10]

In Vietnam, apparel and textile sector employs ~2.5 million [11]

In India, textiles and apparel sector employs 35 million people [12]

In Pakistan, textiles and apparel sector employs 15 million people [13]

In Cambodia, garments and footwear employ 900,000 workers [16]

In Sri Lanka, apparel industry employs 300,000 workers [15]

In China, textile and apparel industry workers are 10.2 million (2020) [9]

In Egypt, textile and apparel sector employs 2.5 million people [17]

In Indonesia, textiles and apparel sector employs 2.9 million people [14]

In Mexico, apparel and textile industry employs 700,000 workers [18]

In the EU, textiles and clothing sector employment 1.7 million people (2018) [7]

In the EU, leather and footwear employment 1.3 million people (2018) [7]

In Bangladesh, RMG jobs grew from about 2.5 million to 4.2 million since 2010 (Bangladesh BGMEA) [10]

In Bangladesh, garment exports are associated with major job levels; RMG sector employs 4.2 million [10]

In Vietnam, garment and textile workforce is about 2.5 million [11]

In Cambodia, garments and footwear employ around 900,000 workers [16]

In Pakistan, textiles employ about 15 million people [13]

In India, textiles and apparel employ 35 million people [12]

In the EU, textiles and clothing industry decreased employment by 3.5% between 2008 and 2018 (trend) [7]

In the EU, leather and footwear employment decreased by 6.6% between 2008 and 2018 (trend) [7]

In the EU, retail and other service employment rose by 1.2% in 2018-2019 (est.) [7]

In the US, apparel manufacturing employment fell during COVID; seasonally adjusted employment for apparel manufacturing NAICS 315 declined from 1.1 million to 0.9 million (approx) [19]

In the US, apparel manufacturing employment series CEU4240100001 indicates employment level of about 0.9 million in 2020 [19]

In the US, retail clothing and accessory stores employment (CEU4242900001) reached 1,600,000 around 2019 peak [20]

In the US, apparel and accessories wholesale employment (CEU4242000001) was around 1,050,000 in 2019 [21]

In the US, manufacturing employment in textiles and apparel has declined from earlier peaks; unemployment impacts (BLS CEW) [22]

In the US, Fashion Designer employment was 27,400 in May 2023 [23]

In the US, forecast fashion designer employment growth 2022-2032 is 3% [24]

In the US, forecast merchandise displayers employment growth 2022-2032 is 6% [25]

In the US, forecast tailors employment change 2022-2032 is -2% [26]

In the US, forecast sewing machine operators employment change 2022-2032 is -6% [27]

In the US, retail salespersons employment change 2022-2032 is 2% [28]

In the US, store managers employment change 2022-2032 is -1% [29]

In the US, purchasing managers employment change 2022-2032 is 6% [30]

In the US, sales reps wholesale and manufacturing employment change 2022-2032 is 1% [31]

In the EU, employment distribution by company size: 47% of textiles and clothing workers are in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (2018 est.) [7]

In the EU, share of employment in low-skilled production roles is 55% (2018 est.) [7]

In Bangladesh, average worker turnover is 200% annually in garments (reported) [32]

In Cambodia, reported wage compliance remains a challenge: only 20% of wages fully comply (ILO report figure) [16]

In the UK, employment in the fashion industry was 900,000 people in 2019 [33]

In the UK, fashion industry employment (direct and indirect) was 1.1 million in 2019 [33]

In the UK, clothing and textiles manufacture employed 140,000 people in 2022 [34]

In the UK, employment in textile and clothing retail was 283,000 in 2022 [35]

In the UK, employment in the clothing and textiles sector (SIC 13-15) was 1.0 million in 2023 [36]

In the United States, the apparel and related product manufacturing sector had 1,124,000 employed people in 2022 [37]

In the United States, the textile product mills sector had 63,700 employed people in 2022 [38]

In the United States, the cut and sew apparel manufacturing sector had 353,700 employed people in 2022 [39]

In the United States, the apparel manufacturing (except knit) sector had 490,700 employed people in 2022 [40]

In the United States, the knit fabric and apparel manufacturing sector had 345,500 employed people in 2022 [41]

In the United States, the wholesale trade sector for apparel and piece goods had 1,006,400 employed people in 2022 [21]

In the United States, the retail clothing and clothing accessories stores sector had 1,529,500 employed people in 2022 [20]

In the United States, the retail shoes stores sector had 306,900 employed people in 2022 [42]

In the United States, the retail department stores sector had 1,122,200 employed people in 2022 [43]

In the United States, apparel and accessories wholesalers had 10.6% of total wholesale trade employment in 2022 [44]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Fashion Designers” was $33.09 in May 2023 [23]

In the United States, employment for “Fashion Designers” was 27,400 in May 2023 [23]

In the United States, the mean annual wage for “Fashion Designers” was $68,830 in May 2023 [23]

In the United States, employment for “Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers” was 52,800 in May 2023 [45]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers” was $17.67 in May 2023 [45]

In the United States, employment for “Fashion Model” (occupation “Models”) was 75,000 in May 2023 [46]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Models” was $25.86 in May 2023 [46]

In the United States, employment for “Tailors” was 171,120 in May 2023 [47]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Tailors” was $16.52 in May 2023 [47]

In the United States, employment for “Sewing Machine Operators” was 142,930 in May 2023 [48]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Sewing Machine Operators” was $15.48 in May 2023 [48]

In the United States, employment for “Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” was 10,250 in May 2023 [49]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” was $17.11 in May 2023 [49]

In the United States, employment for “Cutting and Trimming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” was 31,010 in May 2023 [50]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Cutting and Trimming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” was $16.15 in May 2023 [50]

In the United States, employment for “Purchasing Managers” was 357,440 in May 2023 [51]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Purchasing Managers” was $39.08 in May 2023 [51]

In the United States, employment for “Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing” was 1,030,650 in May 2023 [52]

In the United States, the mean hourly wage for “Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing” was $26.67 in May 2023 [52]

In the United States, employment for “Retail Salespersons” was 4,544,000 in May 2023 [53]

In the US, “Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Operators” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $17.11 [49]

In the US, “Cutting and Trimming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $16.15 [50]

In the US, “Sewing Machine Operators” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $15.48 [48]

In the US, “Tailors” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $16.52 [47]

In the US, “Fashion Designers” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $33.09 [23]

In the US, “Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $17.67 [45]

In the US, “Models” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $25.86 [46]

In the US, “Retail Salespersons” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $14.73 [53]

In the US, “Store Managers” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $23.31 [54]

In the US, “Purchasing Managers” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $39.08 [51]

In the US, “Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $26.67 [52]

In the US, “Graphic Designers” mean hourly wage in 2023 was $28.52 [55]

In the US, “Fashion Designers” mean annual wage in 2023 was $68,830 [23]

In the US, “Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers” mean annual wage in 2023 was $36,760 [45]

In the US, “Retail Salespersons” mean annual wage in 2023 was $30,650 [53]

In the US, “Sewing Machine Operators” mean annual wage in 2023 was $32,190 [48]

In the US, “Tailors” mean annual wage in 2023 was $34,370 [47]

In the US, “Models” mean annual wage in 2023 was $53,780 [46]

In the US, “Store Managers” mean annual wage in 2023 was $48,490 [54]

In the US, “Purchasing Managers” mean annual wage in 2023 was $81,330 [51]

In the US, “Graphic Designers” mean annual wage in 2023 was $59,330 [55]

In Bangladesh, minimum wage for garment workers was 8,000 BDT/month (2023) [56]

In Cambodia, minimum wage for garment workers was 192 USD/month in 2023 [57]

In Vietnam, statutory minimum wage was 1.8 million VND/month (region 1, 2022) [58]

In Pakistan, Punjab garment worker minimum wage was 25,000 PKR/month in 2022 [59]

In the US, “Fashion Designers” worked primarily in full-time employment; 87% were full-time in 2023 (BLS) [60]

In the US, “Retail Salespersons” were 59% women (2023 workforce characteristic) [61]

In the US, “Fashion Designers” median pay was $68,350 in May 2023 [23]

In the US, “Tailors” median pay was $33,860 in May 2023 [47]

In the US, “Sewing Machine Operators” median pay was $31,520 in May 2023 [48]