Portuguese 
The Shortage of Tailors in the United States Exposes a Profession with a Median Age of 54 Years, Strong Presence of Foreign-Born Workers, Hands-On Learning, and Renewed Demand for Alterations of Ready-Made or Online Purchases.
Bent over a sewing machine in Manhattan, Kil Bae finishes the hem of a dress when he receives a vintage jacket that needs to be tailored for the client. The item cost US$ 20, but the owner is willing to pay US$ 280 for the labor needed to get it to the desired size.
The information was published by the Associated Press, an international news agency based in the United States. The country had fewer than 17,000 tailors, custom clothing makers, and bespoke professionals employed at establishments, a 30% decline over the past decade.
A Profession That Has Aged While Young People Chose Other Paths
The median age among seamstresses, dressmakers, and tailors reached 54 years in the year prior to the report’s publication. This calculation included self-employed professionals and workers in private residences.
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The difference compared to the rest of the labor market is significant. These professionals are 12 years older than the median age of the entire employed population. This means a substantial portion may retire without finding someone prepared to continue the work.
Foreign labor sustains a significant part of the sector. About 40% of these workers were born outside the United States, with a notable presence of individuals from Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam, and China.
The Associated Press also gathered data on wages. In May 2024, the average annual salary was US$ 44,050, while the average for all workers reached US$ 68,000.
Why There Is a Shortage of Tailors Even When There Is Demand for Alterations
The issue begins with the relationship between effort, learning, and compensation. Working hours bent over fabrics, paying attention to small details, and unpicking seams require concentration and take a physical toll. At the same time, the average pay remains below the national average.
Many fashion courses prepare professionals for mass production. Learning within a workshop, working with various garments and clients of diverse body types, receives less emphasis. Thus, few newcomers arrive with the practical skills necessary to take on complex tasks.
Kil Bae began learning tailoring at 17 in South Korea. He spent five years working with his brothers before moving on to custom orders, model creation, and experiences with fashion brands.
The path shows that a short course can open a door, but it doesn’t instantly transform a beginner into a master tailor. Complete training relies on repetition, guidance, and exposure to various fabrics, machines, and body shapes.
Nine-Week Course Received 200 Applicants for Just 15 Spots
Nordstrom, a department store chain, created a practical response to the labor shortage. The company partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology, a fashion school in New York, to offer a nine-week program on advanced sewing and alterations.
The first cohort received 200 applications for only 15 students. The training was designed to prepare participants for the services offered by the retailer.
Nordstrom employs approximately 1,500 tailoring and alteration professionals. They hem pants, repair tears, fit suits, and modify formal dresses. Of the 15 participants in the first class, ten were hired or in the hiring process.
The outcome helps explain why major retailers invest in training. Without new professionals, stores may sell an expensive item but struggle to provide the necessary alterations to ensure a proper fit for customers.
The Limits of Automation in Clothing Alterations
For Kil Bae, this work “cannot be done by artificial intelligence”. This statement reflects the opinion of a professional with decades of experience rather than a technical conclusion that no step can be automated.
Artificial intelligence is already involved in modeling, the process used to design shapes that guide fabric cutting. However, the final adjustment still requires observing posture, proportions, movement, and personal preference.
A machine can repeat measurements, but the tailor must decide how much fabric to remove, where to reposition a seam, and how to preserve the original design of the garment. A wrong alteration can ruin a piece that doesn’t allow for recovering the cut material.
Job postings for these professionals have declined by approximately 2% between February 2020 and February 2026. In the same period, marketing and programming positions fell by nearly 30%. This comparison indicates greater stability, but it does not mean that the trade is immune to all technological changes.
E-commerce and Secondhand Clothes Renew Demand for Alterations
E-commerce makes shopping easier but prevents consumers from trying on clothes before they arrive. When the size does not match the body, an alteration can prevent returns and transform a basic piece into something comfortable.
The demand also comes from consumers interested in restoring secondhand clothing, customizing ready-made pieces, or extending the life of their wardrobe. The service is no longer associated solely with suits and formal dresses, but now includes jeans, jackets, shirts, and minor repairs.
Other networks have noticed this trend. Brooks Brothers tested custom women’s tailoring in five stores and then expanded the service to 40 more locations. This indicates that retailers see a business opportunity where there is a shortage of qualified professionals.
For the Brazilian public, the situation resembles the old neighborhood tailors that lost ground with the rise of ready-to-wear clothing. Still, seamstresses and tailors are sought after when a hem needs to be raised, a waist needs to be taken in, or an important garment doesn’t fit properly.
A rare profession that remains necessary inside and outside large stores
The reduction to less than 17,000 workers employed in establishments does not mean that tailoring has lost its clientele. The aging of the workforce, the retirement of more experienced professionals, and the lack of practical skills training help explain the scarcity.
The 200 people interested in 15 course openings reveal a willingness to learn. The challenge lies in turning this interest into ongoing education, attractive working conditions, and professionals capable of making manual decisions that automation has not yet fully replicated.
Is there still a neighborhood tailoring shop in your town, or is it becoming increasingly difficult to find someone who does good alterations? Share your experience in the comments and help spread this story.
