Textile Manufacturing Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) projects a 12.4 percent decline in employment at textile mills and textile product mills from 2023 through 2033, even as the demand for textile products increases. Job opportunities in apparel manufacturing are expected to decline by 28.2 percent during this same time span. Changes in the textile industry will account for much of this decline. Factories are reorganizing production operations for greater efficiency and installing equipment that relies on more highly automated and computerized machines and processes. Such technology as shuttleless and air-jet looms and computer-controlled machinery allows several machines to be operated by one operator while still increasing speed and productivity.

While fewer workers will be needed to operate machines, there will continue to be job openings each year as experienced people transfer to other jobs or leave the workforce. Workers who have good technical training and skills will have the best job opportunities.