Drycleaning and laundry services
NAICS Code: 812300
Industry Insight
The Drycleaning and laundry services industry is classified under NAICS code 812300 and employed approximately 261,600 workers in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. By 2034, BLS projects employment will reach 266,500 — a net change of +4,900 jobs over the decade. That works out to a +1.9% projected growth rate, a measured but positive trajectory.
NAICS 812300 sits within a broader sector ecosystem whose health depends on demographic trends, technology adoption curves, and policy decisions on immigration, tax incentives, and labor regulation. The occupation mix inside Drycleaning and laundry services determines how AI displacement risk filters down to individual workers — industries dominated by clerical and routine analytical roles face the steepest exposure, while those anchored in physical skill, patient care, or creative judgment retain stronger resilience.
Use this industry profile alongside our occupation rankings and employer AI risk grades to build a full picture. The BLS publishes detailed wage and employment figures for each sector in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The BLS Employment Projections methodology blends input-output modeling, productivity forecasts, and occupational staffing patterns, so estimates are directional rather than precise, and industry-level outcomes depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions that evolve between projection cycles.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Drycleaning and laundry services (NAICS 812300) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities | 264,300 | +10.6% |
| Other food manufacturing | 262,500 | +8.4% |
| Drycleaning and laundry services | 261,600 | +1.9% |
| Junior colleges; state | 260,700 | +1.7% |
| Machine shops | 259,000 | +0.4% |
| Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors | 258,200 | +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 Drycleaning and laundry services?
As of 2024, the Drycleaning and laundry services industry employs approximately 261,600 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Drycleaning and laundry services growing or declining?
The Drycleaning and laundry services industry is projected to grow by 1.9% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +4,900 jobs over the decade.
What jobs are in the Drycleaning and laundry services industry?
The Drycleaning and laundry services industry (NAICS 812300) employs workers across a range of occupations. Browse the full occupations directory to see AI exposure scores, wage data, and growth projections for specific roles common in this industry.
How will AI affect the Drycleaning and laundry services industry?
AI impact on the Drycleaning and laundry services industry depends on the specific occupation mix. Industries with more routine data processing and clerical roles tend to have higher AI displacement risk, while those requiring physical labor, complex judgment, or creative work face lower risk. View occupation-level AI exposure scores for detailed analysis.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Employment figures in thousands. Data reflects projected changes over the 2024–2034 decade