America’s textile manufacturing industry has been struggling in recent decades and that trend does not appear to be ready to end.
According to the Greenville News, the U.S. has lost 1.3 million jobs in the textile and apparel industry since 1990, which has spelled trouble for states such as South Carolina, which once relied heavily on such jobs.
However, the news source reports that the manufacturing industry in the Palmetto State appears to be in stronger shape than some other states because of its production of durable goods such as automobiles and aircrafts.
“We are so very fortunate to have such a strong manufacturing base,” Ben Haskew, president of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, told the news source.
South Carolina isn’t the only state struggling with textile hiring. The Danville Register & Bee reports that some parts of southern Virginia are struggling to get over the collapse of the textile industry.
For decades, Dan River Inc. was the largest employer in Danville, Virginia, but seeing the writing on the wall for the region’s textile industry, a number of local politicians worked to bring in new companies to the area. This effort eventually brought in a Swedwood facility, which produces furniture for IKEA.