Occupation Profile for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Signficant Points
- Most workers learn through on-the-job training.
- This group ranks among the rapidly declining occupations because of increases in imports, offshore assembly, productivity gains from automation, and new fabrics that do not need as much processing.
- Earnings of most workers are low.
Earnings
Earnings of textile, apparel, and furnishings workers vary by occupation. Because many production workers in apparel manufacturing are paid according to the number of acceptable pieces they produce, their total earnings depend on skill, speed, and accuracy. Workers covered by union contracts tend to have higher earnings. Median hourly earnings by occupation in May 2006 were as follows:
| Fabric and apparel patternmakers | $15.74 |
| Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers | 13.78 |
| Upholsterers | 13.09 |
| Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders | 11.68 |
| Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders | 11.20 |
| Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders | 11.08 |
| All other textile, apparel, and furnishings workers | 11.03 |
| Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers | 11.01 |
| Shoe machine operators and tenders | 10.54 |
| Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders | 10.39 |
| Shoe and leather workers and repairers | 9.83 |
| Sewers, hand | 9.79 |
| Sewing machine operators | 9.04 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers | 8.58 |
| Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials | 8.56 |
Benefits vary by size of company and work that is done. Large employers typically offer all usual benefits. Apparel workers in retail trade also may receive a discount on their purchases from the company for which they work. In addition, some of the larger manufacturers operate company stores from which employees can purchase apparel products at significant discounts. Some small firms and drycleaning establishments, however, offer only limited benefits. Self-employed workers generally have to purchase their own insurance.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of textile, apparel, and furnishings workers is expected to decline rapidly through 2016, but some openings will be created by the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Employment change. Employment in textile, apparel, and furnishing occupations is expected to decline by 11 percent between 2006 and 2016. Apparel workers have been among the most rapidly declining occupational groups in the economy. Increasing imports, the use of offshore assembly, and greater productivity through automation will contribute to additional job losses. Also, many new textiles require less production and processing.
Domestic production of apparel and textiles will continue to move abroad, and imports to the U.S. market are expected to increase. Fierce competition in the market for apparel will keep domestic apparel and textile firms under intense pressure to cut costs and produce more with fewer workers. Although the textile industry already is highly automated, it will continue to seek to increase worker productivity through the introduction of labor-saving machinery and the invention of new fibers and fabrics that reduce production costs. Technological developments, such as computer-aided marking and grading, computer-controlled cutters, semiautomatic sewing and pressing machines, and automated material-handling systems have increased output while reducing the need for some workers in larger firms.
Despite advances in technology, the apparel industry has had difficulty employing automated equipment for many assembly tasks because of the delicate properties of many textiles. Also, the industry produces a wide variety of apparel items that change frequently with changes in style and season. Even so, increasing numbers of sewing machine operator jobs are expected to be lost to low-wage workers abroad.
Outside of the manufacturing sector, tailors, dressmakers, and sewers—the most skilled apparel workers—are expected to experience little to no change in employment. Most of these workers are self-employed or work in clothing stores. The demand for custom home furnishings and tailored clothes is diminishing in general, but remains steady in upscale stores and by certain clients. Designer apparel and other handmade goods also appeal to people looking for one-of-a-kind items.
Employment of shoe and leather workers is expected to decline rapidly through 2016 as a result of growing imports of less expensive shoes and leather goods and of increasing productivity of U.S. manufacturers. Also, buying new shoes often is cheaper than repairing worn or damaged ones. However, declines might be offset somewhat as the population continues to age and more people need custom shoes for health reasons.
Employment of upholsterers is expected to decline moderately through 2016 as new furniture and automotive seats use more durable coverings and as manufacturing firms continue to become more automated and efficient. Demand for the reupholstery of furniture also is expected to decline as the increasing manufacture of new, relatively inexpensive upholstered furniture causes many consumers simply to replace old, worn furniture. However, demand will continue to be steady for upholsterers who restore very valuable furniture. Most reupholstery work is labor intensive and not easily automated.
Job prospects. Even though the overall number of jobs in this occupation is decreasing, job openings do arise each year from the need to replace some of the many workers who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the occupation for other reasons.
Employment
Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers held 873,000 jobs in 2006. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up this group was distributed as follows:
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers | 239,000 |
| Sewing machine operators | 233,000 |
| Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials | 77,000 |
| Upholsterers | 55,000 |
| Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers | 54,000 |
| Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders | 43,000 |
| Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders | 40,000 |
| Sewers, hand | 23,000 |
| Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders | 19,000 |
| Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders | 19,000 |
| Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers | 18,000 |
| Shoe and leather workers and repairers | 16,000 |
| Fabric and apparel patternmakers | 9,200 |
| Shoe machine operators and tenders | 4,100 |
| All other textile, apparel, and furnishings workers | 24,000 |
Manufacturing jobs are concentrated in California, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, Texas, and South Carolina. Jobs in reupholstery, shoe repair and custom leatherwork, and laundry and drycleaning establishments are found in cities and towns throughout the Nation. Overall, about 12 percent of all workers in textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations were self-employed; however, about half of all tailors, dressmakers, and sewers and about a quarter of all upholsterers were self-employed.