Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

The Work

Clothing alteration workers make adjustments to all types of garments, such as dresses, trousers, skirts and jackets. The work is carried out from instructions given by the customer. Garments may be altered by hand or by machine. Garments are pressed once alterations are complete.  
 
Various kinds of fabric are worked on including silk, cotton, linen, wool and synthetics, such as polyester. Tools used include sewing machines, needles, pins and scissors. Alteration workers need to maintain their own machines.  
 
Many alteration workers combine this type of work with tailoring or dressmaking.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
• Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or rasor blades.
• Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
• Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
• Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
• Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
• Trim excess material, using scissors.
• Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
• Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
• Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Most new applicants are adults with experience in the clothing industry that require some training. Any training usually covers employers' preferred work methods and is carried out on-the-job, under the supervision of an experienced member of staff. An ability to work in retail and customer service may also form part of this role in retail clothing stores. 

Key Skills Certs: 

Manual Handling 

Skills in needle craft & garment textile production machinery

Customer service in Retail settings 

Retail Skills Till & Cash handling

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder

Training & Development 

FET Centres throughout the country run relevant full-time and part-time courses: Sewing Skills, Creative Textile, Fashion & Design, retail & customer service NFQ Level 4-5 Search our FET Coursefinder

Last Updated: October, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €35k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties. Role, experience, and location.

Data Source(s):
Indeed.ie/ Glassdoor/ Excel Recruitment

Last Updated: January, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The five-year annual average employment growth rate was below average for this occupation, although there was an increase of over 2,000 persons employed between 2021 and 2022. As the Census data indicates, there are a large number of roles within this group, with many employing fewer than 1,000 persons. Between 2016 and 2022, employment levels fell for many of these roles.

Despite the decline in employment evident in the Census data, the Skills for Growth data indicates issues with recruitment of upholsterers for both the industry and retail (repair) sectors; upholsterers also appeared in the DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy data (albeit in small numbers), along with spray painters (included in the other skilled trades n.e.c. category). Although demand for many of these trades have declined in recent years, an increased focus on the circular economy may see increased demand, or at least slow the decline for roles such as upholsterers and tailors.

• Design & Crafts Council of Ireland

  • Castle Yard, Kilkenny
  • (056) 776 1804
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