Tailors, Dressmakers, Furriers and Milliners

(NOC 6342)

in All Sales and Service

Tailors, dressmakers and furriers make, alter and repair tailored clothing, dresses, coats and other made-to-measure garments. Milliners make, alter and repair hats. This group also includes workers who fit, alter and repair clothes. They work for clothing retailers, clothing alteration shops, dry cleaners and garment manufacturing companies or they may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Sales and Service

  • Estimate 10325 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 17495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$15.65

Median

$19.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$1,943

Minimum

$17,787

Median

$36,996

Maximum

Compared to: All Sales and Service

Hourly Pay

$12.95

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$25.60

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,949

Minimum

$16,629

Median

$45,086

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Tailors, dressmakers and furriers make, alter and repair tailored clothing, dresses, coats and other made-to-measure garments. Milliners make, alter and repair hats. This group also includes workers who fit, alter and repair clothes. They work for clothing retailers, clothing alteration shops, dry cleaners and garment manufacturing companies or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Tailors:

  • Make made-to-measure clothing like suits and coats according to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications and fit.
  • Design patterns to fit measurements.
  • Mark, cut and sew fabric.
  • May alter and repair clothes as needed.

Dressmakers:

  • Make women's clothing.
  • Select and modify commercial patterns to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications.
  • Fit, mark, cut and sew fabric.
  • May alter and repair clothes as needed.

Furriers:

  • Make, alter, restyle and repair natural fur garments and accessories.

Milliners:

  • Design, lay out, cut, sew and press fabric, leather and other materials into hats and related accessories.
  • Alterationists:
  • Fit, alter and repair garments according to customers' requests by hand or using sewing machines.

Sample job titles

  • alterations dressmaker
  • custom furrier
  • custom tailor
  • dressmaker
  • furrier
  • garment alterationist
  • milliner
  • seamstress
  • tailor

Skills

  • Creating garments requires good eyesight, patience, and the ability to perform detailed and intricate work. You must be able to follow directions closely and accept instructions from both clients and supervisors. Artistic imagination and craft skills are important for turning an idea into a garment. However, it is just as important to be capable of adapting your ideas to the tastes of others. You must have good hand-eye coordination. Accuracy and a sense of proportion are also necessary. Many jobs within this group need demonstrated ability to perform the technical tasks of the job like sewing and tailoring and on-the-job training may be provided.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • Tailors and dressmakers need demonstrated ability to sew, style and fit men's or women's clothing and may need college or other courses in tailoring or dressmaking.
  • Furriers need several years of experience in selecting pelts and making, fitting, styling and altering fur garments and accessories.
  • Milliners need a demonstrated ability to sew, style and fit hats and caps.
  • Alterationists need demonstrated ability to sew, alter and repair garments.

Other considerations

  • Many tailors and dressmakers work under contract with several clothing stores. Their earnings and ability to stay in business depend upon the quality of their work and their ability to attract and keep clients. Movement to higher level positions including supervisory is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

395

employed in 2016

69.6%

employed full-time

39.2%

self employed

89.9%
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10.1%
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55.5

median age

Compared to: All Sales and Service

102,605

employed in 2016

56.4%

employed full-time

5.8%

self employed

60.1%
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39.9%
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37

median age

Where will I likely work?

47.4%

Halifax

$23,525 median annual income
20.5%

North Shore

$17,253 median annual income
15.4%

Southern

$11,755 median annual income
9.0%

Cape Breton

N/A
7.7%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

43.5%

Other services (except public administration)

33.9%

Manufacturing

11.3%

Retail trade

4.8%

Health care and social assistance

3.2%

Professional, scientific and technical services

What is the age of Employment?

45.0%

55-64

20.0%

45-54

16.0%

35-44

9.0%

25-34

8.0%

65+

3.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Sales and Service

30.0%

15-24

17.2%

45-54

17.2%

25-34

16.1%

55-64

13.8%

35-44

Top levels of education

30.4%

High school

$10,812 median annual income
22.8%

College Diploma

$24,757 median annual income
21.5%

Less than high school

$19,917 median annual income
13.9%

Bachelor

$23,879 median annual income
7.6%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Sales and Service

39.8%

High school

$15,705 median annual income
19.7%

Less than high school

$9,866 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$20,644 median annual income
9.9%

Bachelor

$21,262 median annual income
8.0%

Trade Certification

$21,234 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Apparel Federation
Ottawa, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.