Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Machines can already do 9% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 38%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 9% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 3% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2039, and 38% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 13,920 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $41,640 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 69% for contact with people.
- Also called: Alterations Expert, Alterations Sewer, Bridal Designer, Clothing Pattern Designer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines | 17% | 3% to 30% | |
| Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves | 10% | 3% to 30% | |
| Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings | 8% | 3% to 30% | |
| Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines | 6% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
This job is already among the lowest risk for its skill shape.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2039. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers?
Machines can do 9% of the tasks of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers today and 38% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 51-6052.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/tailors-dressmakers-and-custom-sewers/