2023 Benchmarking Survey Results: Trends in the Job Market
United States Fashion Industry Association
Fashion Made Possible by Global Trade
As we mentioned in our overview, the vast majority of 2023 USFIA Benchmarking Survey respondents hold an optimistic five-year outlook for the U.S. fashion industry. This optimism is a good sign for the U.S. economy and jobs market, because 85% of respondents are planning to increase hiring over the next five years to support planned business expansions. The demand for human talent spans a broad range of positions and business priorities.
Companies’ hiring plans reflect their business priorities over the next five years. The top three positions with the highest demands include “Supply chain specialists,” “Environmental sustainability-related specialists,” and “Data analysts.” You can see the positions with the most growing demand below:
Many of these positions are closely related to the top business challenges facing fashion companies today, such as supply chain management, sustainability, and adopting data management tools to improve operational efficiency.
“Managing the risk of forced labor in the supply chain” was rated by respondents as one of their top three business challenges in 2023. U.S. fashion companies have been required to adjust their sourcing strategies to comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which was passed on June 21, 2022. “Shipping delays and supply chain disruptions,” often related to the COVID-19 pandemic, also remains a significant concern. As a result, 68% of respondents plan to increase hiring for “Supply chain specialists.”
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Corresponding with a shift towards sustainability initiatives in the fashion industry, the number of employees dedicated to sustainability and compliance issues is also predicted to rise, with 68% of respondents intending to increase hiring for “Environmental sustainability-related specialists.”
As we close out this in-depth look at our 2023 Benchmarking Study results, we’re looking forward to seeing these plans in action throughout the year and checking in on progress next year!
Want to learn more? Read the 2023 Benchmarking Study or sign up for Sourcing Trends & Challenges in 2023: Highlights from USFIA's Annual Benchmarking Study, our webinar with study author, Dr. Sheng Lu . Interested in participating in the next study? Contact us to find out more.