The textile industry is a vast manufacturing and services ecosystem that extends far beyond clothing production into advanced materials science. This global enterprise transforms raw fibers into finished products used in medical devices, automotive interiors, aerospace components, and numerous industrial applications. Pinpointing a single employment number is difficult because jobs are spread across manufacturing, technology, design, and logistics sectors. Understanding job availability requires looking beyond the traditional factory floor to the high-tech laboratories and specialized design studios that form the modern industry landscape.
Defining the Modern Textile Industry
The modern textile industry is fundamentally divided between traditional and technical applications, which defines job roles and required skills. Traditional textiles focus on apparel, home furnishings, and decorative fabrics, relying on established weaving, knitting, and dyeing processes. These segments prioritize aesthetic trends, consumer markets, and efficient large-scale production.
An increasingly prominent area is technical textiles, engineered for performance and function rather than appearance. This segment includes non-woven fabrics for filtration and hygiene products, high-strength composites for construction, and smart textiles like conductive fibers. The growth in specialized materials for sectors like healthcare and defense has broadened the industry’s scope, making it a materials science field as much as a manufacturing one.
Quantifying Textile Employment: Current Statistics and Trends
The total number of jobs within the US textile supply chain, including fiber production, textile mills, and apparel manufacturing, was reported to be around 471,046 workers in 2024. The core US textile industry, encompassing fiber, fabric, and textile product mills, accounted for more than 334,000 workers in 2023. These domestic employment figures reflect a long-term contraction due to decades of global competition and trade policy shifts.
Projections indicate a continued decline in traditional roles, with one analysis forecasting a 22.11% reduction in the workforce by 2028. This trend is concentrated in manufacturing and operator segments, which are most affected by automation and productivity gains. Globally, the textile-apparel production industry sustains approximately 70 million to 75 million jobs worldwide, with the vast majority situated in Asia.
Domestic textile employment is highly concentrated geographically, most notably within the South Atlantic region of the United States. Over 60% of textile mill employees are located in this region. The South Atlantic, Pacific, and Middle Atlantic regions collectively host 70% of all apparel manufacturing establishments.
Analyzing Job Availability by Key Sector
Manufacturing and Production
This sector focuses on the hands-on creation of fibers, yarns, and fabrics, representing the largest segment of the textile workforce. Roles include machine operators, who manage complex spinning, weaving, and knitting equipment, and specialized technicians responsible for maintenance and repair. Quality control inspectors ensure materials meet precise specifications for strength and stability. Production managers and plant engineers oversee the entire operational flow, focusing on efficiency, safety, and supply chain logistics.
Research, Development, and Technology
Jobs in this sector involve creating new materials and improving existing manufacturing processes, driving the industry’s shift toward high-performance textiles. Textile Engineers and Materials Scientists design innovative fiber structures, test material properties, and develop new chemical finishes for fabrics. Their work is project-based, often focusing on advanced applications like lightweight carbon fiber composites or antimicrobial coatings for medical textiles. Process Engineers analyze and refine production lines, using data to enhance efficiency and reduce waste in dyeing and finishing operations.
Design, Marketing, and Sales
This segment bridges the gap between technical production and consumer demand, encompassing creative direction, trend analysis, and product placement. Textile Designers and Colorists develop the aesthetic components of products, including patterns, prints, and color palettes, often utilizing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. Merchandisers and Market Analysts forecast consumer demand and manage product life cycles, ensuring production aligns with market trends. Sales Representatives and Brand Managers cultivate relationships with wholesale clients and retailers, promoting finished textiles and apparel.
High-Demand Roles and Necessary Skills
The industry is increasingly seeking candidates for specialized, high-value roles that require a blend of technical expertise and analytical ability. Textile Engineers are sought after for their knowledge of fiber mechanics, chemistry, and process development to engineer new materials and production methods. Materials Scientists focusing on polymers and composites are also in demand to create performance-based textiles for industrial and technical applications.
The role of Supply Chain Analyst is growing, requiring strong data analysis skills to optimize complex logistics and sourcing networks. Technical Designers and Garment Technologists link design and manufacturing, needing detailed knowledge of pattern making, fit, and production standards. Core technical skills across these roles include understanding textile testing protocols, quality control standards, and sustainable manufacturing principles.
Future Outlook and Job Market Projections
The textile job market is shifting away from low-skilled labor toward technologically oriented positions. Automation, utilizing robotic sewing machines and 3D printing, is making domestic manufacturing more economically viable, supporting the trend of reshoring production to the US. This shift creates demand for high-skilled workers, such as automation technicians and data analysts, who can manage and maintain advanced machinery.
The growth of the circular economy and sustainable textiles is creating new job categories focused on waste reduction and material recovery. New roles are emerging in chemical and mechanical textile-to-textile recycling, requiring specialized Process Engineers and Research Scientists. The push for shorter, more transparent supply chains is also increasing the need for Supply Chain Managers capable of optimizing complex domestic networks.
The US textile industry will need to train tens of thousands of new workers over the next five years to meet the demands of these advanced roles. This growth is concentrated in R&D, where the development of performance materials for medical, military, and protective applications continues to expand. The future job landscape favors individuals who possess strong technical degrees and are prepared to work with advanced digital and materials science technologies.