U.S. Fashion Companies Plan More Hiring as Industry Skills Continue to Change

The survey found that 87% of participating companies expect to increase hiring over the next five years, compared with 75% in the previous edition of the study. The result matches the highest level recorded since the pandemic, according to the association.

The findings provide a snapshot of an industry adjusting to artificial intelligence, regulatory changes, sustainability requirements and shifting business conditions.

Hiring remains a priority

The projected increase in hiring is notable because fashion companies are simultaneously facing changes in how work is performed.

According to the survey findings, 87% of respondents expect to expand hiring through 2031. That suggests companies anticipate continued demand for employees even as technology changes the way certain functions are performed.

The fashion workforce extends well beyond designers and retail employees. It includes merchandising, sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, marketing, e-commerce, product development, finance, technology and supply-chain operations.

As fashion companies increasingly rely on digital tools and data, employees may need to combine traditional industry knowledge with technical and analytical capabilities.

Technology is changing the skills equation

Artificial intelligence has become one of the forces influencing fashion-industry workforce planning.

AI can affect areas such as demand forecasting, customer analysis, product development, marketing and inventory management. The technology does not eliminate the need for human employees across these functions, but it can change how their responsibilities are structured.

The USFIA survey findings indicate that AI, regulation and sustainability are becoming increasingly important in determining the skills companies seek.

That shift may be particularly relevant to younger professionals entering fashion-related careers. Traditional knowledge of fabrics, design, retail and merchandising can remain valuable while being combined with skills involving data, technology and regulatory compliance.

Sustainability creates additional requirements

Sustainability is another factor changing workforce expectations.

Fashion companies face increasing attention to sourcing, manufacturing, materials and supply-chain practices. Meeting those demands can require employees who understand both commercial operations and environmental considerations.

The association's survey indicates that sustainability is part of the broader skills transformation taking place in the sector.

For businesses, that means workforce planning cannot simply focus on the number of employees needed. Companies also have to determine what capabilities those employees need.

Regulation adds complexity

Regulatory developments are another factor influencing hiring and training.

Fashion businesses operate across international supply chains, meaning changes in trade rules, product requirements and sourcing standards can affect manufacturers, brands and retailers.

The USFIA findings place regulation alongside AI and sustainability among the issues shaping future talent requirements.

That combination creates a more complicated employment environment. Employees may increasingly need knowledge that crosses traditional departmental boundaries.

A merchandising professional, for example, may need greater awareness of supply-chain conditions, while a sourcing specialist may need to understand environmental and regulatory requirements.

Opportunities and challenges for women

The findings are relevant to women because women remain deeply represented across many areas of fashion, including design, merchandising, retail, marketing and brand management.

However, the survey does not establish that women will benefit disproportionately from the projected hiring growth, and it does not provide a gender-specific employment forecast. The significance instead lies in the broader availability of industry opportunities and the changing qualifications employers are seeking.

As fashion businesses expand their use of technology and data, career paths may also evolve beyond traditional creative roles.

A changing fashion workforce

The survey's findings suggest that the fashion industry's future workforce will not simply be larger. It is likely to be different.

Companies expecting to hire more employees while also responding to AI, regulation and sustainability pressures will need workers with a wider combination of skills.

That could affect education, professional development and recruitment throughout the industry.

For fashion professionals, the development also underscores how closely the creative economy is becoming connected to technology and business operations.

Why the findings matter

The USFIA survey provides an important counterpoint to concerns that technological change will simply reduce employment opportunities. Its findings indicate that participating companies expect significant hiring while simultaneously changing the capabilities they require.

The most important development is therefore not simply the projected increase in jobs. It is the transformation of the skills associated with those jobs.

As the fashion industry moves deeper into digital commerce, artificial intelligence, sustainability and complex global supply chains, its workforce is being reshaped around a broader mix of creative, technical and business capabilities.