Textiles (clothes, footwear and leather)

A field of study in engineering, manufacturing and construction

Figures for

Where can it lead?81 jobsuse what this field teaches.ESCO

Vocational or degree?Mostly vocational7 in 10 train through vocational routes in the EU: 120,000 finished vocational training and 40,000 higher education in this field (2024). Figures for the wider field.Eurostat

Do graduates use it?73% in a matching jobof engineering graduates with a degree in the EU work in a job that matches what they studied. After vocational training: 53%.All engineering fields · Eurostat 2024

Do they find work?87% in workof people who finished higher education in the last 1 to 3 years in the EU (2025). Vocational training: 80%. General upper secondary only: 67%.All fields · Eurostat

What you'd learn

Properties of textile materialsTextile technologiesLeather goods componentsLeather goods materialsApparel manufacturing technologyManufacturing of sports equipmentLeather goods qualityTextile finishing technologyDyeing technologyStandard sizing systems for clothingCamouflageManufacturing of wearing apparel+ 13 more

The knowledge areas ESCO files under this field, those most needed by jobs first. Actual programmes vary by school and country.

Where it can lead

81 jobs use what this field teaches.

Sort by

Jobs that use what textiles (clothes, footwear and leather) teaches
Job	Prospects	Pay	Usual study	AI exposure
Linen room attendant	Limited	Below average	Basic schooling	Very low
Wearing apparel presser	Limited	Below average	Basic schooling	Very low
Wearing apparel patternmaker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Clothing cutter	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Sewing machine operator	Good	About average	Vocational	Very low
Knitter	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Braiding textile technician	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Nonwoven staple machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Nonwoven textile technician	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Clothing product grader	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Textile pattern making machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Textile machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Carpet handicraft worker	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Mattress making machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Braiding machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Dressmaker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Footwear production technician	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Very low
Footwear production machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Sewing machinist	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Shoemaker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Knitting machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Weaver	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Pre-stitching machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Made-up textile articles manufacturer	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Automated cutting machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods CAD patternmaker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Carpet weaver	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather measuring operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Clothing CAD patternmaker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods patternmaker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Canvas goods assembler	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Embroiderer	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Footwear finishing and packing operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods artisanal worker	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Glove maker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Costume maker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Milliner	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Spinning textile operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Cotton gin operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Wig and hairpiece maker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods manual operator	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Mattress maker	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Footwear product developer	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Very low
Textile dyer	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather production machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Digital prototyper	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods manufacturing technician	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Very low
Tailor	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Weaving machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Textile product developer	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Clothing technologist	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Textile dyeing technician	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods product developer	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Textile technologist	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Finishing textile technician	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Upholsterer	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Hide grader	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Clothing CAD technician	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Low
Textile process controller	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Very low
Textile finishing machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Tanning technician	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Very low
Textile operations manager	Good	Well above average	Degree	Low
Leather goods packing operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather sorter	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Aircraft interior technician	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Tanner	Limited	Below average	Vocational	Very low
Leather laboratory technician	Average	About average	Post-secondary	Very low
Textile, leather and footwear researcher	Good	Above average	Degree	Very low
Textile colourist	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Laundry worker	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Fishing net maker	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Leather goods industrial engineer	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Textile machinery technician	Good	About average	Vocational	Very low
Nonwoven filament machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Winding machine operator	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Textile printer	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Green coffee coordinator	Good	Well above average	Degree	Low
Leather production planner	Good	Above average	Degree	Low
Printing textile technician	Limited	About average	Vocational	Very low
Drapery and carpet cleaner	Limited	Below average	Basic schooling	Very low

Jobs that need the knowledge this field teaches (ESCO), closest match first. This is not a record of where graduates actually end up: no EU-wide data says that per field.

Where to study

949 institutions in the EU offer engineering bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.