2018 BUREAU OF LABOR JOB OUTLOOK AND PROSPECTS FOR FASHION DESIGNERS

Employment of fashion designers is projected to grow 3% from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations. Most apparel continues to be produced internationally. As a result, employment of fashion designers in the apparel manufacturing industry is projected to decline about 33% over the projection period, slowing the overall employment growth of fashion designers.

However, employment of fashion designers in the retail trade industry is projected to grow about 22 percent over the projection period. Retailers are selling more fashion-inspired clothing, which increases the demand for fashion designers to design clothing and accessories for everyday wear for the mass market.

JOB PROSPECTS: Those with formal education in fashion design, excellent portfolios, and industry experience will have the best job prospects. However, strong competition for jobs is expected because of the large number of people who seek employment as fashion designers and the relatively few positions available. In addition, it may be necessary for some fashion designers to relocate, because employment opportunities for fashion designers are concentrated in New York and California.