Introduction

The JobStart/Future Skills Sector Partnerships Program of Saskatchewan Learning enabled a sector study of the apparel and textile industry in Saskatchewan. This industry profile is based on that study, published in March, 1998.

The apparel and textile industry established a partnership of industry members and key stakeholders through funding and support from the Sector Partnerships Program. These partners worked together to carry out a study that identified current and future hiring needs and training requirements.

Strategic planning enables industry and training providers to work together to provide training opportunities that match the skills the industry requires.

For more information about the Sector Partnership Report and this industry visit the Executive Summary. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file.

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Saskatchewan Overview

• In 1998, there were about 400 manufacturing companies in Saskatchewan’s apparel and textile industry.
  Their sales exceeded $45 million and they employed an estimated 1,700 people.
  
• Over the five years leading up to this study the industry enjoyed rapid growth of over 76%.
  
• The apparel and textile industry includes apparel (clothing), textile and craft industries throughout the province. Some companies produce products of Aboriginal design and creation.
  
• Apparel companies manufacture or add value to:

  • Men’s, women’s or children’s apparel
  • Sweaters
  • Gloves
  • Occupational apparel
  • Other apparel products & accessories (lingerie, hats, scarves, neckties, etc.)
  • Embroidered or silk-screened apparel
  • Hosiery
  • Foundation garments
  • Fur and leather goods

• The broader textile industry produces primary textiles (man-made fibres, yarns, broadwoven fabrics and broadknitted fabrics) and textile products. There is essentially no primary textile industry in Saskatchewan.
  
• Manufacturers of textile products produce or add value to fabric goods other than clothing. Examples include:
  • Bedding products
  • Mattresses
  • Sleeping bags
  • Tents
  • Silk products and others
  • Tarpaulins
  • Canvas products
  • Embroidery
  • Upholstery
  • Draperies
    
• Craft industry manufacturers use fabrics, furs, leathers or yarns in the production of craft products.
  
• Based on the 1998 industry survey, 58% of companies are in the apparel industry, 44% are in the textile industry and 30% are craft businesses. Some companies operate in more than one of these areas.
  
• Of the 400 companies in the province in 1998, only 26 had more than 10 employees. Those 26 companies employ a total of 800 people.
  
• Seventy-six percent of the companies surveyed are small, with five or fewer employees. Eleven percent have six to ten employees and 9% have 11 to 20 employees. Only 5% have more than 20 employees

Who works in the industry?

Most employees in the Saskatchewan apparel, textile and craft industry are women and youth, including Aboriginal women and youth.

Saskatchewan Trends

Related Jobs

The following list provides an idea of some of the jobs in the apparel and textile area.

Where there is a relevant occupational description in Saskatchewan Job Futures, you can click on the job to go directly to that description. You’ll learn more about the occupation, including education and training requirements, work duties, wage information and employment trends.

National Occupational Classification (NOC) numbers follow the job title. You can use the NOC numbers to look up the occupations in the NOC.

Sewer (945) Pattern maker (524) Embroiderer (524, 944) Designer (524) Fur finisher (945) Sales representative (641) Cutter (945)

Manager (091) Marketing manager (061) Silk screener (944) Operations/production manager (091) Floor supervisor (922) Craftsperson (524)

Other related jobs include: administrative staff, instructor, computer graphic designer, engineer and saddle maker.

Where the Jobs Are

Of the apparel and textile companies in the 1998 survey, 45% were from rural areas and 55% were urban.

Companies operated in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Yorkton, North Battleford, Lloydminster, Weyburn, Wynyard, Canora, Moosomin, Carlyle and other communities.

Skills and Training

Most training in the Saskatchewan apparel and textile industry is offered on the job.

In the 1998 survey, large companies (more than ten employees) and urban companies tended to place more importance on formal training and certification. Forty-two percent of companies said they would pay a higher salary for a formally trained employee.

Because of the need for trained sewers, the Apparel and Textile Association of Saskatchewan offers a 12-week sewing machine operator program.

The Apparel Human Resource Council (AHRC) has created a national apparel training program and education database, which is available on the AHRC Web site.

Want to find out what kind of apparel and textile education and training programs are offered in Saskatchewan? Check into What to Study? to find out what’s available and where.

Skills and knowledge that workers in the industry may need

Knowledge of fabric construction and fibres Operating a variety of sewing machines Machine and equipment maintenance Quality control Pattern layout Cutting (electric and manual) Safety practices Creating master patterns Design, construction, new materials Monitor performance/standards Adapting patterns Creating and producing designs Use of design/graphics software Human resource management

Sketching designs (by hand or computer) Drawing patterns to scale from sketches Supervise, coordinate and schedule Providing specifications Finance Manage production deadlines Troubleshooting Using computer technology Marketing and market development Sales strategies and advertising General business skills Train staff in job duties and safety

Skills that may be required for specific parts of the industry include silk screening, operating specialized equipment such as embroidery, mattress-making and knitting machines, repairing equipment, and others.

Employers look for a good work ethic, speed and accuracy, manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to watch for flaws and quality.

The Future

A 1997 Saskatchewan Economic & Co-operative Development Sector Review estimated that the apparel and textile industry in Saskatchewan will achieve over $300 million in sales by the year 2017.

The largest growth of employment in the industry will be in sewing. Growth is also expected in sales, marketing, cutting, instructing, embroidery, design, administration and fur finishing.

Technical skills in computer graphic design and engineering will be in demand in some areas.

Related Information

Visit the following Web sites for more information on the apparel and textile industry:

Apparel Human Resource Council
Canadian Apparel Federation
Textiles Human Resources Council
HRDC Industry Profiles – Textiles Industry (1996)

Return to Saskatchewan Industry Profiles Index