REPORTS: The Economic Impact of Branded Clothing Retail in the EU27 - Oxford Economics Report Highlights Sector’s Contribution to GDP and Employment

KEY FINDINGS:

• Economic Contribution: The branded clothing retail sector contributed €331.8 billion to the EU’s GDP, accounting for 2% of total GDP, and supported 4.5 million jobs, equivalent to 2% of total employment in the EU. 

• Employment: The sector directly employs 1.3 million people, with an additional 3.2 million jobs supported indirectly and through induced effects.  Notably, 63% of employees in the sector are women. 

• Global Trade: The EU is a major player in global trade for branded clothing products, ranking as the largest importer of apparel (28% of global imports) and the second-largest exporter of bags (28%) and footwear (17%).