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 In August, UniformMarket presented a two-part series that looked at the current uniform marketplace. Based on an executive summary prepared by Frost & Sullivan, a global market research firm, the report identified potential industry growth segments as well as restraints, and outlined a series of competitive factors faced by today's North American manufacturers and distributors. At the conclusion of part one and part two, we asked readers for their input. Was the report accurate, or did it overreach?
While a number of readers emailed us, the overall response was inconclusive. Perhaps this was due to timing, as summer is a season when we traditionally turn away from deep analysis of any kind.
Or, without anonymity, readers may have feared their competitors would know what they were thinking, thereby giving them an edge. Lastly, because the report touched upon so many areas, readers simply may not have known how - or what – to respond.
But this is a topic which begs for robust, thoughtful, discussion, given the current economy. The industry is changing, and it is only through information that one can prepare for that change. The Frost & Sullivan report addressed the role the economic crisis plays in the uniform marketplace, and rightly so. At the end of August, the number of people receiving jobless benefits totaled 6.23 million, with many of the losses occurring in bread-and-butter uniform market segments – service and manufacturing. When federal emergency programs are included, the total number of jobless benefit recipients was 9.14 million people in the week that ended August 15.
Also in August, Obama economic adviser Christina Romer said that unemployment could reach 10 percent this year and some private economists are forecasting it will hit 10.3 percent next summer before starting to improve.
These sobering statistics underline an essential point: If the economy, of which the uniform marketplace is a part, is to rebound, where will tomorrow's jobs and uniform wearers come from? And, equally important, will the attitudes of buyers – the decision makers who purchase uniform programs -- be forever changed due to the economic downturn?
Where the Jobs AreThe answer, in part, can be found in yet another study, released this month by the Partnership for Public Service, a think tank that surveyed 35 federal agencies, representing nearly 99 percent of the 1.9 million federal workforce. "Where the Jobs Are 2009: Mission-Critical Opportunities for America," outlines government-wide projected hiring needs for the next three years.
The study estimates that the federal government will need to hire nearly 600,000 people for all positions over President Obama's four years -- increasing the current workforce by nearly one-third. The majority of new hires will be needed in five broad fields -- medical, security, law enforcement, legal and administrative.
Among the findings: The medical and public health area is most in need of hires, according to the study. The Justice Department is expecting 4,000 new positions among law enforcement personnel, correctional officers and attorneys in the 2010 budget.
Click here for complete hiring projections. Take the SurveyWhile reports are a useful marketing research tool, they are no replacement for talking with those who know best. To accurately gauge the current marketplace, we turn to you, our readers, who run stores and factories, and who work with customers every day. What are your thoughts about the North American workwear and uniforms market? You can reread, or first read, the Frost and Sullivan executive summary by clicking on the links below:
Part 1
Part 2
Then take the UniformMarket survey. You may answer all, or some, of the questions asked – the choice is yours. And you may remain anonymous. We'll publish the complete findings in a future issue of UM.
Click here to take the survey. |
September 15, 2009
