Workwear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Apparel, Footwear), By Application (Chemical, Power, Biological), By Demography (Men, Women), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global workwear market size was valued at USD 16,773.3 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% from 2022 to 2030. The rising importance of workwear as a reflection of one’s professionalism at the workplace, particularly in the manufacturing and corporate sectors, is expected to remain a prominent factor augmenting the product demand. Furthermore, the increasing occurrence of workplace accidents and fatalities on a global level is expected to promote the adoption of appropriate work apparel and footwear. As per the International Labor Organization (ILO), every year, around 2.3 million people around the world die due to work-related accidents or diseases.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected a majority of the industries including safety & industrial workwear. Governments around the globe enacted rigorous regulations regarding shutting down manufacturing plants, supply chains, retail shops, and several other industries that demand workwear except for essential services. On the other hand, the pandemic has shown a positive impact on the medical & healthcare industry causing an increase in workflow, with a lot of demand generated from biological centers for surgical and medical workwear. With the unprecedented demand for such attires, major Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers ramped up their production capacity to try and meet the growing demand.

The global market is driven by product innovations backed by the furtherance of technology. Noticing a growing demand for innovative workwear worldwide, prominent market players have been innovating their technologies over the years. For instance, in June 2019, Carhartt, Inc., a U.S.-based apparel manufacturing company, received a patent for its Full Swing technology. This technology helps users improve their mobility as it employs a stretch back layer (concealed). Unlike outerwear garments that traditionally feature outer shells made with one-piece construction, workwear manufactured using Full Swing technology help enhance the range of motion (users) through panels that are hidden in the back that allow stretch, while still maintaining the function or integrity of the gear.

A trend that has been gripping the industry over the years is the rising popularity of wearable technology and smart materials. For instance, in December 2019, Alexandra, a leading brand in professional healthcare workwear, launched a new range of high-end polyester/cotton garments, paying special attention to both comfort and value. This newly launched healthcare range is comprehensively selected, tested, and manufactured by experts to ensure they meet the latest standards of compliance and performance as mandated in the healthcare industry. In February 2020, Snickers Workwear, one of the U.K.’s leading workwear innovators, launched fully accredited, advanced Protective Wear for heat and flame, electrostatic, mechanical, and chemical risk environments. These newly launched garments are manufactured from tailor-made fabrics designed to respond to risky situations and have added Class 2 and 2 hi-vis work trousers, tops, and sweatshirts to its protective wear garments range.

Product Insights

On the basis of product types, the global market has been further categorized into apparel and footwear. The apparel product segment dominated the market in 2021 and accounted for the largest share of more than 78.00% of the global revenue. The apparel product segment is further bifurcated into general and protective workwear while the footwear segment is bifurcated into general and protective footwear. The apparel workwear is expected to retain the leading position throughout the forecast years. Increasing demand for comfortable, lightweight, and fashionable apparel from working professionals worldwide is propelling the growth of this segment.

Growing participation and inclination of people toward job opportunities are also among the major factors driving the segment growth. Moreover, the rising demand for durable and comfortable apparel coupled with the availability of customized products is expected to boost the product demand further. The footwear is segment expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. Manufacturing industries are compelling their workforce to wear safety footwear to overcome slips and falls inside the premises. In the power industries, it has become essential to use footwear to avoid burns. Many pharma companies are situated in cold places, where work footwear can prevent health issues including frostbites and hypothermia to their employees.

Demography Insights

On the basis of demography, the global market has been further segmented into men and women. The men’s segment dominated the global market in 2021 and accounted for more than 62.00% share of the overall revenue. The segment is projected to witness a steady growth rate over the forecast period retaining the leading position in the market. The growth of this segment is credited to a high concentration of men workers in the manufacturing sector generating huge demand for apparel as well as footwear. In addition, a trend of companies buying men’s workwear in bulk has been observed in the industry.

The women segment is projected to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. The population of working women is anticipated to increase exponentially on a global level. Gender discrimination towards heavy work is decreasing day by day, which, in turn, is encouraging women to participate in challenging job roles. As a result, the women's demography segment is expected to witness considerable growth in the global market during the forecast period.

Application Insights

The chemical segment dominated the market in 2021 and accounted for the maximum share of more than 33.00% of the global revenue. The high safety protocol mandated in the chemical industry is responsible for the growth of the chemical segment. The majority of the firms associated with the chemical industry are concerned with their safety protocols and thus boosting their demand throughout the forecast years. Companies are spreading awareness regarding the adverse effects of harmful chemicals among their workforce, which, in turn, is driving their employeesto use workwear apparel and footwear.

The biological application segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate during the forecast years. Workwear for employees in the biological industry is designed to protect against parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and prions, among other biological agents that are considered hazardous. Workwear in the biological industry finds use in microbiological laboratories, sewage work, waste treatment, biotechnological production, crime scene investigation, and emergency clean-up, among other application areas.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the global market in 2021 and accounted for the maximum share of more than 43.00%. The regional market is estimated to expand further at the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030 retaining its dominant position in the global industry. The growth of the APAC regional market can be attributed to the rising job opportunities in the region, which, in turn, are expected to augment the demand for workwear clothing among the working population. In addition, the rapid growth of the e-commerce industry in this region has increased the availability of a variety of workwear products.

North America accounted for the second-largest revenue share in 2021. An increasing number of established companies offering innovative products is expected to drive the market over the years to come. For instance, in November 2019, Mascot International USA Inc. launched workwear made of 100% organic cotton, free from pesticides or other toxic substances. These products have high demand as they are skin-friendly and highly durable. In North America, the U.S. is foreseen to be at the forefront regarding market share and accounted total share of more than 79.00% in 2021. The continuous expansion of different end-use industries is also likely to generate product demand in the coming years.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is characterized by the presence of numerous well-established players, such as Carhartt Inc., Aramark, Alisco Group, Alexandra, A. Lafont SAS, and 3M. These players account for a significant market share and have diverse product portfolios along with a strong presence worldwide. Rapidly changing consumer preferences & needs are pushing manufacturers to improve and diversify their product offerings.Some of the key players operating in the global workwear market include:

• Carhartt Inc.

• Aramark

• Alisco Group

• Alexandra

• A. Lafont SAS

• Aditya Birla Group

• 3M

• Ansell Ltd.

• Honeywell International

• Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Workwear Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global workwear market report on the basis of product, demography, application, and region.

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Apparel

    • General Workwear

    • Protective Workwear

  • Footwear

    • General Footwear

    • Protective Footwear

• Demography Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Men

  • Women

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Chemical

  • Power

  • Food & Beverage

  • Biological

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa