Apparel manufacturing
NAICS Code: 315000
BLS projects Apparel manufacturing to contract -30.4% through 2034 - 32.8 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 1% of them. It ranks among the contracting industries projected through 2034.
Where Apparel manufacturing sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Apparel manufacturing sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
-30.4% Top 99% higher than 1% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Contraction read
Signature: 36.9% mean employer AI exposure across 8 tracked public companies .
BLS projects contraction even though many public companies still map to this sector - read employer grades as residual corporate exposure, not proof the industry will keep the same staffing footprint.
NAICS 315000 · 84,500 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Apparel manufacturing.
Public companies near this industry
SEC industry labels matching tokens from Apparel manufacturing. 8 companies scored · mean AI exposure 36.9%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Amer Sports, Inc. | B |
| Columbia Sportswear Co | B |
| Ermenegildo Zegna N.V. | B |
| FIGS, Inc. | B |
| Gildan Activewear Inc. | B |
| Levi Strauss & Co | B |
| lululemon athletica inc. | B |
| Under Armour, Inc. | B |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Apparel manufacturing shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Apparel manufacturing (NAICS 315000) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing | 85,600 | +1.5% |
| Business schools and computer and management training; private | 85,500 | +9.9% |
| Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills | 84,700 | -13.1% |
| Apparel manufacturing | 84,500 | -30.4% |
| Communications equipment manufacturing | 83,000 | -6.6% |
| Personal and household goods repair and maintenance | 82,500 | +5.9% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Apparel manufacturing?
As of 2024, the Apparel manufacturing industry employs approximately 84,500 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Apparel manufacturing growing or declining?
The Apparel manufacturing industry is projected to decline by 30.4% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of -25,700 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Apparel manufacturing?
8 tracked public companies whose SEC industry label matches Apparel manufacturing. Sample names include Amer Sports, Inc., Columbia Sportswear Co, Ermenegildo Zegna N.V.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Apparel manufacturing industry?
Among 8 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 36.9% (most common grade B). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Apparel manufacturing. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next under contraction
What to do with this
Use Apparel manufacturing's employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts