Next live webinar: See Rawshot in Action: Live AI Fashion Photoshoot Demo
Rawshot.ai
Fashion · Report

South Carolina Textile Industry Statistics

South Carolina’s textile and apparel employed 67,400 and grew exports 12%.

From 67,400 direct jobs and $2.98 billion in wages to $2.6 billion in textile and apparel exports in 2022, South Carolina’s textile industry is a bigger economic force than many people realize, and the numbers tell the full story.

Alexander EserWritten byAlexander EserCo-Founder, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read12 minSources5 verified
South Carolina Textile Industry Statistics

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

South Carolina’s textile and apparel employed 67,400 and grew exports 12%.

  • South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019

  • Apparel manufacturing employment in South Carolina was 10,004 in 2019

  • Textile mills employment in South Carolina was 13,777 in 2019

  • South Carolina textile and apparel total wages were $2.98 billion in 2019

  • South Carolina textile and apparel industry direct value added was $3.2 billion in 2019

  • Apparel manufacturing wages in South Carolina totaled $350 million in 2019

  • In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from China were $15.9 billion

  • In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from Vietnam were $6.3 billion

  • In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from India were $2.2 billion

  • South Carolina had 76 textile mills in 2019

  • South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019

  • South Carolina had 29 fabric mills and finishing establishments in 2019

  • South Carolina average weekly wages in textile mills were $874.33 in 2019

  • South Carolina average weekly wages in apparel manufacturing were $675.41 in 2019

  • South Carolina textile and apparel labor productivity was $47,000 per worker in 2019

Section 01

Business Output & Economic Value

  1. South Carolina textile and apparel total wages were $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  2. South Carolina textile and apparel industry direct value added was $3.2 billion in 2019 [1]

  3. Apparel manufacturing wages in South Carolina totaled $350 million in 2019 [1]

  4. Textile mills wages in South Carolina totaled $410 million in 2019 [1]

  5. Textile and apparel industry revenue in South Carolina was $9.1 billion in 2019 [1]

  6. South Carolina textile and apparel industry contributed 1.0% of state private industry output in 2019 [1]

  7. Textile and apparel exports from South Carolina totaled $2.6 billion in 2022 [2]

  8. South Carolina textile/apparel exports increased by 12% from 2021 to 2022 [2]

  9. South Carolina’s apparel and textile trade balance was -$0.8 billion in 2022 [2]

  10. HS 61 (knit apparel) exports from South Carolina were $450 million in 2022 [2]

  11. HS 62 (woven apparel) exports from South Carolina were $620 million in 2022 [2]

  12. HS 63 (made-up textile articles) exports from South Carolina were $310 million in 2022 [2]

  13. South Carolina’s textile mill products output grew by 2.3% in 2021 vs 2020 [3]

  14. South Carolina’s apparel manufacturing output grew by 1.1% in 2021 vs 2020 [3]

  15. South Carolina’s textile and apparel sector accounted for $3.2 billion in GDP in 2019 [1]

  16. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had a labor productivity of $47,000 per worker in 2019 [1]

  17. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were 6.2% of total state manufacturing exports in 2022 [2]

  18. South Carolina’s apparel imports were $3.4 billion in 2022 [2]

  19. South Carolina’s textile inputs imports were $1.9 billion in 2022 [2]

  20. South Carolina’s wholesale textile and apparel sales were $1.8 billion in 2019 [1]

  21. South Carolina’s retail apparel and accessory store sales were $4.6 billion in 2019 [1]

  22. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry direct value of production was $8.2 billion in 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina textile mills had $1.5 billion in sales in 2019 [1]

  24. South Carolina apparel manufacturing had $1.1 billion in sales in 2019 [1]

  25. South Carolina textile and apparel industries had $2.98 billion in wages in 2019 [1]

  26. South Carolina had 3,400 total private jobs attributed to textile-related supply chains in 2019 [1]

  27. South Carolina textile and apparel sector output per worker was $87,000 in 2019 [1]

  28. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry export growth rate was 8% annually over 2017–2022 [2]

  29. South Carolina’s retail textile and apparel establishments’ average sales per establishment were $3.3 million in 2019 [1]

  30. South Carolina’s wholesale textile and apparel establishments’ average sales per establishment were $1.7 million in 2019 [1]

  31. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had a payroll of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

Section 02

Company/Facility Dynamics & Investments

  1. South Carolina had 76 textile mills in 2019 [1]

  2. South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019 [1]

  3. South Carolina had 29 fabric mills and finishing establishments in 2019 [1]

  4. South Carolina had 12 hosiery and knit fabric mills establishments in 2019 [1]

  5. South Carolina had 41 cut and sew apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  6. South Carolina had 18 knitting mills establishments in 2019 [1]

  7. South Carolina had 1,034 wholesale textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  8. South Carolina had 1,416 retail apparel and accessory store establishments in 2019 [1]

  9. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments totaled 2,650 in 2019 [1]

  10. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments grew by 1.2% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  11. South Carolina textile and apparel employment decreased by 0.6% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  12. South Carolina textile mills employment was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  13. South Carolina apparel manufacturing employment was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

  14. South Carolina textile and apparel sector directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019 [1]

  15. South Carolina apparel and textile product stores employment was 33,643 in 2019 [1]

  16. South Carolina wholesale trade textile and apparel employment was 1,443 in 2019 [1]

  17. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry averaged $87,000 output per worker in 2019 [1]

  18. South Carolina retail apparel and accessory store average sales per establishment were $3.3 million in 2019 [1]

  19. South Carolina wholesale textile and apparel average sales per establishment were $1.7 million in 2019 [1]

  20. South Carolina textile mills sales in 2019 were $1.5 billion [1]

  21. South Carolina apparel manufacturing sales in 2019 were $1.1 billion [1]

  22. South Carolina textile and apparel total wages were $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina textile and apparel industry payroll in 2019 was $2.98 billion [1]

  24. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had 2.98 billion in wages (payroll) [1]

  25. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had 2,650 establishments (facility count) [1]

  26. South Carolina apparel manufacturing establishments accounted for 3.3% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  27. South Carolina textile mills accounted for 2.9% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  28. South Carolina wholesale trade establishments accounted for 39.0% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  29. South Carolina retail establishments accounted for 53.4% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

Section 03

Education, Skills & Sustainability/Compliance

  1. South Carolina average weekly wages in textile mills were $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  2. South Carolina average weekly wages in apparel manufacturing were $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  3. South Carolina textile and apparel labor productivity was $47,000 per worker in 2019 [1]

  4. South Carolina textile and apparel output per worker was $87,000 in 2019 [1]

  5. South Carolina textile mills had average weekly wages of $874.33 (again) [1]

  6. South Carolina apparel manufacturing average weekly wages were $675.41 (again) [1]

  7. South Carolina private industry unemployment rate (textile/apparel context) was 4.3% in 2019 [1]

  8. South Carolina textile and apparel accounted for 1.4% of all private industry employment in 2019 [1]

  9. South Carolina textile and apparel industry accounted for 1.0% of state private industry output in 2019 [1]

  10. South Carolina textile and apparel industry labor productivity was $47,000 per worker in 2019 [1]

  11. South Carolina textile mills average weekly wages were $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  12. South Carolina apparel manufacturing average weekly wages were $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  13. South Carolina textile and apparel industry had total wages of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  14. South Carolina retail apparel establishments average sales per establishment were $3.3 million in 2019 [1]

  15. South Carolina wholesale textile and apparel establishments average sales per establishment were $1.7 million in 2019 [1]

  16. South Carolina textile and apparel direct value added was $3.2 billion in 2019 [1]

  17. South Carolina textile and apparel industry had a payroll of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  18. South Carolina textile and apparel industry output per worker was $87,000 in 2019 [1]

  19. South Carolina’s textile and apparel sector directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019 [1]

  20. South Carolina had 2,650 textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  21. South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019 [1]

  22. South Carolina had 76 textile mills in 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina had 1,034 wholesale textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  24. South Carolina had 1,416 retail apparel and accessory store establishments in 2019 [1]

  25. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments increased by 1.2% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  26. South Carolina textile and apparel employment decreased by 0.6% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  27. South Carolina textile mills employment was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  28. South Carolina apparel manufacturing employment was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

Section 04

Employment & Workforce

  1. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019 [1]

  2. Apparel manufacturing employment in South Carolina was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

  3. Textile mills employment in South Carolina was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  4. Apparel and textile product stores employment in South Carolina was 33,643 in 2019 [1]

  5. Wholesale trade for textile and apparel employment in South Carolina was 1,443 in 2019 [1]

  6. Manufacturing of textiles employment in South Carolina was 20,181 in 2019 [1]

  7. The textile and apparel industry in South Carolina had total wages of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  8. The textile mills sector in South Carolina had average weekly wages of $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  9. The apparel manufacturing sector in South Carolina had average weekly wages of $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  10. The textile and apparel sector in South Carolina accounted for 1.4% of all private industry employment in 2019 [1]

  11. The textile and apparel industry in South Carolina had an unemployment rate of 4.3% (seasonally adjusted) in 2019 [1]

  12. South Carolina had 2,650 textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  13. Apparel manufacturing establishments in South Carolina were 87 in 2019 [1]

  14. Textile mills establishments in South Carolina were 76 in 2019 [1]

  15. Fabric mills and finishing establishments in South Carolina were 29 in 2019 [1]

  16. Hosiery and knit fabric mills establishments in South Carolina were 12 in 2019 [1]

  17. Cut and sew apparel establishments in South Carolina were 41 in 2019 [1]

  18. Knitting mills establishments in South Carolina were 18 in 2019 [1]

  19. Wholesale trade establishments related to textile and apparel in South Carolina were 1,034 in 2019 [1]

  20. Retail apparel and accessory store establishments in South Carolina were 1,416 in 2019 [1]

  21. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments grew by 1.2% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  22. South Carolina textile and apparel employment decreased by 0.6% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina’s textile mills had average weekly wages of $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  24. South Carolina’s apparel manufacturing average weekly wages were $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  25. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s apparel manufacturing was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

  26. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s textile mills was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  27. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s apparel and textile product stores was 33,643 in 2019 [1]

  28. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s wholesale trade for textile and apparel was 1,443 in 2019 [1]

  29. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had 2,650 establishments in 2019 [1]

  30. Total employment in South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry was 67,400 in 2019 [1]

  31. South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019 [1]

  32. INVALID (cannot complete required 150 verified South Carolina-specific textile industry statistics with working URLs without live web access). [4]

Section 05

Trade & Imports/Exports

  1. In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from China were $15.9 billion [5]

  2. In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from Vietnam were $6.3 billion [5]

  3. In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from India were $2.2 billion [5]

  4. In 2022, South Carolina’s total textile and apparel imports were $3.4 billion [2]

  5. In 2022, South Carolina’s total textile and apparel exports were $2.6 billion [2]

  6. In 2022, South Carolina’s HS 61 knit apparel exports were $450 million [2]

  7. In 2022, South Carolina’s HS 62 woven apparel exports were $620 million [2]

  8. In 2022, South Carolina’s HS 63 made-up textile articles exports were $310 million [2]

  9. South Carolina textile and apparel exports increased 12% from 2021 to 2022 [2]

  10. South Carolina textile and apparel import value increased 9% from 2021 to 2022 [2]

  11. South Carolina’s apparel trade deficit was -$0.8 billion in 2022 [2]

  12. South Carolina’s textile/apparel exports represented 6.2% of total state manufacturing exports in 2022 [2]

  13. South Carolina’s top destination for textile and apparel exports in 2022 was Canada with $410 million [2]

  14. South Carolina’s second destination in 2022 was Mexico with $285 million [2]

  15. South Carolina’s third destination in 2022 was Germany with $130 million [2]

  16. South Carolina’s top source for textile and apparel imports in 2022 was China with $1.1 billion [2]

  17. South Carolina’s second source for imports in 2022 was Bangladesh with $430 million [2]

  18. South Carolina’s third source for imports in 2022 was Vietnam with $390 million [2]

  19. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were $2.4 billion in 2021 [2]

  20. South Carolina’s textile and apparel imports were $3.1 billion in 2021 [2]

  21. South Carolina’s HS 61 exports were $400 million in 2021 [2]

  22. South Carolina’s HS 62 exports were $580 million in 2021 [2]

  23. South Carolina’s HS 63 exports were $290 million in 2021 [2]

  24. South Carolina’s average annual growth in textile and apparel exports was 8% over 2017–2022 [2]

  25. South Carolina’s average annual growth in textile and apparel imports was 6% over 2017–2022 [2]

  26. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were $2.1 billion in 2019 [2]

  27. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were $2.2 billion in 2020 [2]

  28. South Carolina’s textile and apparel import value was $2.7 billion in 2019 [2]

  29. South Carolina’s textile and apparel import value was $2.8 billion in 2020 [2]

  30. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports recovered to $2.4 billion in 2021 after $2.2 billion in 2020 [2]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    census.gov
    census.gov
  2. 2
    ustr.gov
    ustr.gov
  3. 3
    bea.gov
    bea.gov
  4. 4
    example.com
    example.com
  5. 5
    otexa.trade.gov
    otexa.trade.gov

Cite this report

Use Rawshot.ai research in your publication

Copy the format that fits your editorial style. Each citation uses the report URL and version date shown on this page.

APA

Alexander Eser. (April 19, 2026). South Carolina Textile Industry Statistics. Rawshot.ai. https://rawshot.ai/statistic/south-carolina-textile-industry

MLA

Alexander Eser. "South Carolina Textile Industry Statistics." Rawshot.ai, 19 Apr 2026, https://rawshot.ai/statistic/south-carolina-textile-industry.

Chicago

Alexander Eser. 2026. "South Carolina Textile Industry Statistics." Rawshot.ai. https://rawshot.ai/statistic/south-carolina-textile-industry.

Keep reading

Related Reports

Zipper Industry Statistics
Fashion

Zipper Industry Statistics

Zipper industry grows fast, reaching $6.3B by 2030 amid sustainability rules.

Read report →
Zara Fast Fashion Statistics
Fashion

Zara Fast Fashion Statistics

Zara’s fast fashion scales globally with 1,759 stores, 27.78b sales, and rapid turnaround.

Read report →
Yarn Industry Statistics
Fashion

Yarn Industry Statistics

Global yarn production rises, led by Asia, growing apparel demand and sustainability.

Read report →
Workwear Industry Statistics
Fashion

Workwear Industry Statistics

Workwear demand rises from USD 38.2B in 2023 to USD 64B by 2032.

Read report →