The textile dyeing industry is reaching a crisis point, with a widening skills gap, a global shortage of textile coloration professionals and a lack of transferable scientific knowledge within the industry, according to a report released. The results of an industry survey conducted by the Society of Dyers and Colourists paints a bleak picture of the sector – especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – but the research also highlights how the dyeing sector can move forward beyond the current crisis.
The survey was conducted as part of a wider research project conducted by the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) to examine the current skills gap in the dyeing and textile coloration sector – something that the industry has been concerned about for the last decade. “Lack of knowledge is now harming textile production, and adding to corona virus woes, agreed a majority of over 100 industry respondents from 14 countries,” said the SDC in a statement.
Findings state that 77 per cent of textile coloration professionals believe there is a widening skills gap in the dyeing industry, with 53 per cent of agreeing this is now at crisis point. In addition, 71 per cent agreed there is an international shortage of textile coloration professionals with 87 per cent of those within industry believing that ongoing education in textile coloration workplace is vital to narrowing skills gap.
A third of global employers involved in dyeing and finishing are unable to recruit the talent that they need, says the SDC, with a further 55 per cent of participants claiming that there is a lack of transferable scientific knowledge within the industry.
Reasons for this were cited as young people having negative perceptions of the industry, or wanting to be designers rather than dyers, alongside a lack of knowledge of the chemistry behind the processes, as well as poorly promoted opportunities in textile dyeing.
Graham Clayton, CEO of the SDC, commented: “We have been hearing anecdotally that there is a serious skills gap in the dyeing and coloration industry, and our new research proves that not only is this true, but that the situation is much worse than originally imagined.
“The results of our survey are worrying, but it is also evident that the industry is willing to collaborate and work proactively to ensure that a deeper crisis is avoided – and this is something that the SDC is certainly committed to supporting.”
To remedy this situation the SDC is calling for deepening the international talent pool including more online learning made available globally, dedicated support from governments, and a bridging of the skills gap by working together to promote apprenticeship roles.
“If the gap is not closed, respondents believe that industries will disappear worldwide, quality of finished products will be compromised, and knowledge and expertise will be lost permanently,” concluded the SDC.
