The number of self-employed persons in textiles, wearing apparel, and leather products in the US shows a clear declining trend. Starting from 21,000 in 2024, the figure is expected to drop steadily to 16,000 by 2028. Year-on-year variations indicate a reduction of 9.5% from 2024 to 2025, followed by a decrease of 5.3% from 2025 to 2026, and continue to decline at about 5.6% annually through 2028. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2028 is negative, signifying a shrinking sector.
Future trends to watch for include shifts in consumer behavior towards sustainable and digitally-enabled fashion, increased automation, and the impact of trade policies that may influence the demand for traditional self-employment roles in textiles and related sectors.
