Apparel production in the United States saw an 8.5 percent jump in 2012 over 2011 as American shoppers focused more on buying domestically made clothing.
Despite the rise in apparel production, employment of U.S. apparel workers dipped 2.4 percent to 148,100 jobs. Rising production numbers with fewer employees only indicates that the average U.S. apparel company has become more efficient and productive—either with better machinery, more technology or harder-working employees.
