How to become a sewing, embroidery and related worker

Official title: Sewing, embroidery and related workers

Also called: Embroiderer, Sewer, Umbrella maker

Sewing, embroidery and related workers sew together, repair, renovate and decorate garments, gloves and other products of textile, fur, light leather and other materials and fabricate tents, sails, awnings and tarpaulins. They work mainly by hand, using a needle and thread, but may perform some tasks using a sewing machine.

Main tasks

• Repairing defective or damaged portions of cloths or garments by hand, using matching thread and needle
• Removing stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades
• Selecting thread according to specifications or colour of parts, or dyeing thread to match colour and shade of cloth to be darned
• Patching holes, sewing tears and ripped seams, or darning defects in items, using needle and thread
• Pulling knots to the wrong sides of garments, using hooks
• Trimming ends with scissors to make mended portions look uniform with the pattern of cloth
• Sewing ornamental designs by hand over stamped, printed or stencilled patterns on fabric, using needle and coloured thread
• Embroidering ornamental designs on cloth by hand or machine, using needle and coloured thread
• Softening leather or shoe material with water to prepare it for sewing
• Sewing or gluing decorative trimmings to articles such as hats, caps or other millinery

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$21,000 a month
• About 387,500 people in 2025, and about 403,200 projected by 2028. (+4.1%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and hatters
• Garment and related pattern-makers and cutters
• Upholsterers and related workers
• Shoemakers and related workers
• Pelt dressers, tanners and fellmongers

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Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a sewing, embroidery and related worker?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a sewing, embroidery and related worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026