Related BLS programs | Related articles August 1995, Vol. 118,
No. 8 Lauren A. Murray T he U.S. textiles and apparels
industries employ about 1.6 million U.S. workers-1 in 10
manufacturing workers and more than the auto and aircraft
industries combined.1 Textiles and apparel reached employment
peaks long ago and both have been influenced by similar forces,
including productivity, foreign trade, competition and business
cycles. While employment losses have affected the two
industries, the duration and depth of those losses differ. The
textiles industry produces base products such as threads, yarn,
and cordage and woven fabrics, carpets, and rugs; in contrast,
the apparel industry produces finished clothing products made
from base fabrics. Employment in the textiles industry peaked in
1948, 25 years before the apparel industry. The textiles
industry has lost one-half of its employment base since its peak
level; the apparel industry has trimmed one-third of its jobs
since its peak in 1973. And since 1970, the in