U.S. reference data
A concise collection of current U.S. statistics on sewing, tailoring, fashion design, and sewing-supply retail. Every figure links to a named primary source and publication date.
Last updated October 23, 2026What this page covers
Sewing connects creative practice, skilled repair, fashion design, manufacturing, and independent retail. This reference brings together the most useful public numbers across those related areas, without treating them as one single industry.
The figures are national estimates. They are helpful context for writers, students, makers, and anyone looking at the role sewing continues to play in American work and commerce.
The figures
Follow each source link for definitions, methods, and the full underlying data.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 32,700 fashion designers in 2025, with employment projected to remain essentially unchanged through 2035.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fashion Designers, 2025 ↗The projected annual average from 2025 to 2035 is 2,500 openings, largely from people changing occupations or leaving the workforce.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fashion Designers, 2025 ↗More than one in three fashion designers were self-employed in 2025, according to the federal employment projections matrix.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 ↗This is the national median annual wage reported for fashion designers in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fashion Designers, May 2025 ↗The national employment estimate for sewing machine operators was 109,590 in May 2024.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024 ↗The national mean annual wage for sewing machine operators was $36,680 in May 2024.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024 ↗The national employment estimate for this occupation was 16,290 in May 2024.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024 ↗The national mean annual wage for this occupation was $44,050 in May 2024.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024 ↗The Census Bureau counted 3,602 U.S. employer establishments in this retail industry in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023 ↗U.S. stores in this retail category reported $3.270 billion in annual sales in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Retail Trade Survey, 2023 ↗Method and sources
Each statistic comes from a U.S. government source. Occupational figures describe paid employment and wages. Retail figures describe a specific Census retail classification for stores selling new sewing supplies, fabrics, patterns, yarns, and related goods.
Different sources publish on different schedules, so each card names its own data year. PYAJ will review this page regularly and replace figures when a primary source releases a newer edition.
Cite this page
PYAJ Sewing Studio. “U.S. Sewing and Apparel Work Statistics.” Updated October 23, 2026. https://pyajsewing.com/sewing-industry-statistics.
When using an individual number, please also cite the linked government source for that figure.
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