Textile machine setters, operators, and tenders

Number employed in 2006: 122,000
Percent change in 2016: From -24.3 percent for winding, twisting, and drawing out machine workers, to -30.9 percent for knitting and weaving machine workers.
Education/training: Skills are typically learned on-the-job, but manual dexterity and mechanical aptitude are necessary as well. Apprenticeships and other forms of formal, in-house training can last up to two years.
2006 median salary: From $21,620 to cutting machine workers, to $24,290 for knitting and weaving machine workers.
Job outlook: Jobs in textiles will suffer as US companies, under pressure to increase production and contain costs, increasingly import clothing and textiles. Many new textiles also require less production and processing.

More info on textile workers