职业描述：Machine Operators in Fabric, Fur Products Manufacturing (945)

Machine Operators and Related Workers in Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing (945)

At Work
People in this group work for furriers, manufacturers of clothing, footwear, textile and fur products, and companies that provide services such as leather tanning, fur dressing, and leather and fur dyeing.
Sewing machine operators sew fabric, fur and synthetic materials to produce and repair garments and other articles. They also operate tackers, buttonhole makers, hemmers and other machines.
Fabric cutters cut fabric to make parts for garments and other articles. They frequently use computerized cutting devices.
Fur cutters cut pelts to make parts for garments and other articles.
Leather cutters make parts for shoes, garments and other articles.
Hide and pelt processing workers trim, scrape, clean, tan, buff and dye animal hides, pelts and skins to produce leather stock and finished furs.
Inspectors and testers of fabric, fur and leather products manufacturing inspect and grade hides, pelts, leather, and garments and other manufactured fabric, fur and leather products.

Education, Training and Experience
People in this group usually require some high school education.

Many receive on-the-job training.
They usually require experience in the manufacturing of products.

About these Occupations
70,000 persons were employed in these occupations in 1996, down 22% from 1986. Over the same period, employment in all occupations grew by 13.1%.

85% of these workers are sewing machine operators, and 10% are fur, fabric and leather cutters.
9% of these workers work part-time, compared to an average of 19% for all occupations.
16% of these workers are self-employed, equal to the average level for all occupations. The percentage of self-employed workers in these occupations has risen significantly over the last 10 years.
71% of persons working in these occupations are women, well above the average of 45% for all occupations.
The unemployment rate in these occupations averaged 9.5% from 1994 to 1996, well above the average of 6.7% for all occupations. These rates are among the highest for occupations at this skill level.
Average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in these occupations in 1995 were $22,900, well below the average of $35,700 for all occupations. These earnings are among the lowest for occupations at this skill level and for occupations in processing, manufacturing and utilities.
The number of temporary employment authorizations for non-residents in these occupations has decreased significantly, relative to employment, as a result of a weak labour market in these occupations.
Employment in these occupations is highly sensitive to overall economic conditions but is not seasonal.

Full-Time Earnings

1995 Full-Time Earnings*
$37,200 Highest
$22,900 Average
$11,200 Lowest

* Full-time earnings of the highest 10%, the average and the lowest 10% of workers. $35,700 is the average for all occupations.

Looking to the Year 2001
Current labour market conditions for new entrants in these occupations are poor. Labour market conditions for new entrants will remain poor through 2001.

Immigration will continue to be an important source of new labour supply to these occupations.
Most of the increase in labour requirements through 2001 will occur in the personal and household services and clothing industries.