GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Fast Fashion Industry Statistics

Fast fashion heavily relies on a global, young, and female workforce facing low pay and poor safety conditions.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Average hourly wage in Bangladesh fast fashion factories is $0.45 as of 2023

Statistic 2

H&M garment workers earn 40% below living wage in key suppliers

Statistic 3

In Vietnam, fast fashion minimum wage is $192/month in 2023

Statistic 4

Cambodia garment workers average $213/month, 60% poverty line

Statistic 5

Shein factory workers in Guangzhou earn $300-400/month overtime

Statistic 6

Zara suppliers in Turkey pay average €450/month

Statistic 7

Indian fast fashion workers get ₹8,000/month ($96)

Statistic 8

Pakistan apparel wage is PKR 20,000/month ($72)

Statistic 9

Primark Bangladesh workers receive 50% overtime premium irregularly

Statistic 10

Boohoo Leicester factory paid £3.50/hour illegally in 2020

Statistic 11

Ethiopian fast fashion wage is $26/month starter

Statistic 12

Gap Inc. suppliers average 75% living wage gap in Asia

Statistic 13

Chinese fast fashion piece-rate pays $0.02 per garment

Statistic 14

Indonesia garment minimum wage $295/month 2023

Statistic 15

Myanmar workers earned $120/month pre-2021

Statistic 16

Sri Lanka MAS Holdings average wage $250/month

Statistic 17

UK fast fashion retail minimum £10.42/hour 2023

Statistic 18

Morocco fast fashion wage €300/month average

Statistic 19

85% of H&M workers work 60+ hours/week unpaid overtime

Statistic 20

Average benefits coverage in fast fashion is 20% health insurance

Statistic 21

Levi's suppliers provide maternity leave to only 45% workers

Statistic 22

Fast fashion annual bonus averages 5% salary in India

Statistic 23

Vietnam sick leave paid at 30% rate only

Statistic 24

48% of fast fashion factories report fire hazards unsolved

Statistic 25

Bangladesh Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 in 2013 legacy issues persist

Statistic 26

H&M audits show 30% suppliers fail safety standards 2023

Statistic 27

Cambodia 25% factories lack proper ventilation

Statistic 28

Shein factories exceed 14-hour shifts causing exhaustion

Statistic 29

Pakistan 40% chemical exposure without PPE

Statistic 30

Primark 85% suppliers remediated fire risks post-audit

Statistic 31

Boohoo UK sites improved to 95% safety compliance

Statistic 32

Ethiopia Hawassa park reports 15% injury rate yearly

Statistic 33

Gap Inc. 20% suppliers high-risk ergonomics issues

Statistic 34

China fast fashion 35% workers report respiratory issues

Statistic 35

Indonesia 50% factories non-compliant emergency exits

Statistic 36

Myanmar 60% lack access to clean water facilities

Statistic 37

Sri Lanka MAS zero lost-time injuries in 2023

Statistic 38

UK fast fashion stores 10% ergonomic injury claims

Statistic 39

Morocco 28% verbal harassment reported in audits

Statistic 40

Vietnam 22% factories exceed noise limits

Statistic 41

65% fast fashion workers suffer stress-related health

Statistic 42

PPE provision reaches 70% in tier-1 suppliers only

Statistic 43

India 45% dye houses unsafe chemical handling

Statistic 44

Levi's Worker Well-being 90% factories safe certified

Statistic 45

Only 12 hours annual training per fast fashion worker globally

Statistic 46

H&M provides 20 hours training to 70% suppliers' workers

Statistic 47

Bangladesh factories average 5 hours skills training/year

Statistic 48

Cambodia GMAC reports 15 hours digital skills training

Statistic 49

Shein invests $10M in supplier training programs 2023

Statistic 50

Zara Inditex trained 90% workforce on sustainability

Statistic 51

Pakistan BGMEA training covers 30% workers annually

Statistic 52

Primark ethical training reaches 85% supply chain

Statistic 53

Boohoo leadership training for 50% managers post-reform

Statistic 54

Ethiopia industrial parks train 40% on safety skills

Statistic 55

Gap P.A.C.E. program trained 100,000 women since 2007

Statistic 56

China fast fashion vocational training 10 hours avg

Statistic 57

Indonesia 25% workers access upskilling programs

Statistic 58

Myanmar pre-coup training 8 hours/year average

Statistic 59

Sri Lanka MAS invests $5M in skills academy yearly

Statistic 60

UK fast fashion retail trains 60% on customer service

Statistic 61

Morocco suppliers 20 hours compliance training mandated

Statistic 62

Vietnam targets 50 hours training per worker by 2025

Statistic 63

70% fast fashion workers lack leadership development

Statistic 64

Digital skills training covers 25% globally

Statistic 65

H&M apprenticeships for 10,000 youth annually

Statistic 66

Levi's trained 80% on ethical sourcing

Statistic 67

Annual turnover rate in fast fashion factories is 100% in Bangladesh

Statistic 68

H&M supplier factories report 80% annual attrition rate

Statistic 69

Cambodia garment sector turnover hit 45% in 2022

Statistic 70

Shein factories see 150% turnover due to intensity

Statistic 71

Zara India suppliers have 65% voluntary quits yearly

Statistic 72

Pakistan fast fashion turnover 90% driven by low pay

Statistic 73

Primark global supply chain attrition 70%

Statistic 74

Boohoo UK factories turnover dropped to 50% post-scandal

Statistic 75

Ethiopian H&M factories 120% turnover rate 2023

Statistic 76

Gap Inc. reports 55% retail staff turnover annually

Statistic 77

Chinese fast fashion piece-rate leads to 200% turnover

Statistic 78

Indonesia apparel turnover 75% post-COVID

Statistic 79

Myanmar fast fashion turnover spiked to 100% amid unrest

Statistic 80

Sri Lanka MAS turnover 40% improved via retention programs

Statistic 81

UK fast fashion retail turnover 90% for entry-level

Statistic 82

Morocco Zara suppliers 60% annual quits

Statistic 83

Vietnam turnover costs industry $1B yearly

Statistic 84

65% of leavers cite pay as reason in Bangladesh surveys

Statistic 85

Retention bonuses cover only 15% of fast fashion workforce

Statistic 86

H&M retention rate improved to 35% with training

Statistic 87

Levi's retention 60% in certified factories only

Statistic 88

In 2023, 75% of fast fashion workers globally are women

Statistic 89

Fast fashion employs over 75 million workers worldwide as of 2022

Statistic 90

80% of garment workers in Bangladesh, a key fast fashion hub, are under 30 years old

Statistic 91

In Vietnam, fast fashion factories have 65% female workforce aged 18-25

Statistic 92

90% of Shein's supply chain workers in China are migrant women

Statistic 93

H&M's global workforce totals 107,000 employees in 2023, with 78% women

Statistic 94

Inditex (Zara) has 165,000 employees, 75% female in retail and manufacturing

Statistic 95

Fast fashion sector in India employs 45 million, 85% women in low-skill roles

Statistic 96

60% of fast fashion workers in Cambodia are ethnic minorities

Statistic 97

Average age of fast fashion factory workers in Pakistan is 24 years

Statistic 98

70% of Primark suppliers' workers are female migrants

Statistic 99

Boohoo Group's workforce is 70% under 35 in UK operations

Statistic 100

82% of fast fashion workers in Ethiopia are women

Statistic 101

Gap Inc. reports 95,000 associates, 80% women in supply chain

Statistic 102

55% of fast fashion executives are women in top brands like Zara

Statistic 103

In Turkey, 68% of apparel workers for fast fashion are young females

Statistic 104

ASOS supply chain has 75% workforce from ethnic minorities

Statistic 105

40% of fast fashion workers globally have disabilities underreported

Statistic 106

Levi's fast fashion lines employ 67% women in Asia factories

Statistic 107

72% of Next plc's global staff are part-time females under 30

Statistic 108

Fast fashion in Myanmar has 88% female workforce pre-coup

Statistic 109

Uniqlo (Fast Retailing) has 52,000 employees, 65% women

Statistic 110

76% of Superdry suppliers' workers are young women

Statistic 111

In Sri Lanka, 83% of MAS Holdings workers for fast fashion are women

Statistic 112

62% of fast fashion retail staff in Europe are millennials

Statistic 113

Forever 21's US workforce is 70% Hispanic women

Statistic 114

69% of Missguided factory workers are under 25

Statistic 115

In Morocco, 77% of Zara suppliers' staff are female youth

Statistic 116

Urban Outfitters group has 28,000 employees, 68% women

Statistic 117

74% of fast fashion logistics workers are male migrants

1/117

Sources

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Step into a world powered predominantly by young women, yet where their wages lag far behind the cost of living.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, 75% of fast fashion workers globally are women
Fast fashion employs over 75 million workers worldwide as of 2022
80% of garment workers in Bangladesh, a key fast fashion hub, are under 30 years old
Average hourly wage in Bangladesh fast fashion factories is $0.45 as of 2023
H&M garment workers earn 40% below living wage in key suppliers
In Vietnam, fast fashion minimum wage is $192/month in 2023
Annual turnover rate in fast fashion factories is 100% in Bangladesh
H&M supplier factories report 80% annual attrition rate
Cambodia garment sector turnover hit 45% in 2022
Only 12 hours annual training per fast fashion worker globally
H&M provides 20 hours training to 70% suppliers' workers
Bangladesh factories average 5 hours skills training/year
48% of fast fashion factories report fire hazards unsolved
Bangladesh Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 in 2013 legacy issues persist
H&M audits show 30% suppliers fail safety standards 2023

Fast fashion heavily relies on a global, young, and female workforce facing low pay and poor safety conditions.

Compensation and Benefits

Average hourly wage in Bangladesh fast fashion factories is $0.45 as of 2023
H&M garment workers earn 40% below living wage in key suppliers
In Vietnam, fast fashion minimum wage is $192/month in 2023
Cambodia garment workers average $213/month, 60% poverty line
Shein factory workers in Guangzhou earn $300-400/month overtime
Zara suppliers in Turkey pay average €450/month
Indian fast fashion workers get ₹8,000/month ($96)
Pakistan apparel wage is PKR 20,000/month ($72)
Primark Bangladesh workers receive 50% overtime premium irregularly
Boohoo Leicester factory paid £3.50/hour illegally in 2020
Ethiopian fast fashion wage is $26/month starter
Gap Inc. suppliers average 75% living wage gap in Asia
Chinese fast fashion piece-rate pays $0.02 per garment
Indonesia garment minimum wage $295/month 2023
Myanmar workers earned $120/month pre-2021
Sri Lanka MAS Holdings average wage $250/month
UK fast fashion retail minimum £10.42/hour 2023
Morocco fast fashion wage €300/month average
85% of H&M workers work 60+ hours/week unpaid overtime
Average benefits coverage in fast fashion is 20% health insurance
Levi's suppliers provide maternity leave to only 45% workers
Fast fashion annual bonus averages 5% salary in India
Vietnam sick leave paid at 30% rate only

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

The human cost of fast fashion is woven into a global tapestry of poverty wages, where a worker's labor can buy less than their dignity.

Health and Safety

48% of fast fashion factories report fire hazards unsolved
Bangladesh Rana Plaza collapse killed 1,134 in 2013 legacy issues persist
H&M audits show 30% suppliers fail safety standards 2023
Cambodia 25% factories lack proper ventilation
Shein factories exceed 14-hour shifts causing exhaustion
Pakistan 40% chemical exposure without PPE
Primark 85% suppliers remediated fire risks post-audit
Boohoo UK sites improved to 95% safety compliance
Ethiopia Hawassa park reports 15% injury rate yearly
Gap Inc. 20% suppliers high-risk ergonomics issues
China fast fashion 35% workers report respiratory issues
Indonesia 50% factories non-compliant emergency exits
Myanmar 60% lack access to clean water facilities
Sri Lanka MAS zero lost-time injuries in 2023
UK fast fashion stores 10% ergonomic injury claims
Morocco 28% verbal harassment reported in audits
Vietnam 22% factories exceed noise limits
65% fast fashion workers suffer stress-related health
PPE provision reaches 70% in tier-1 suppliers only
India 45% dye houses unsafe chemical handling
Levi's Worker Well-being 90% factories safe certified

Health and Safety Interpretation

The grim reality behind cheap threads is a persistent patchwork of peril, where even as some brands stitch together safer standards, others remain tangled in a legacy of fire hazards, toxic exposures, and exhausted workers that the industry has yet to fully unravel.

Training and Development

Only 12 hours annual training per fast fashion worker globally
H&M provides 20 hours training to 70% suppliers' workers
Bangladesh factories average 5 hours skills training/year
Cambodia GMAC reports 15 hours digital skills training
Shein invests $10M in supplier training programs 2023
Zara Inditex trained 90% workforce on sustainability
Pakistan BGMEA training covers 30% workers annually
Primark ethical training reaches 85% supply chain
Boohoo leadership training for 50% managers post-reform
Ethiopia industrial parks train 40% on safety skills
Gap P.A.C.E. program trained 100,000 women since 2007
China fast fashion vocational training 10 hours avg
Indonesia 25% workers access upskilling programs
Myanmar pre-coup training 8 hours/year average
Sri Lanka MAS invests $5M in skills academy yearly
UK fast fashion retail trains 60% on customer service
Morocco suppliers 20 hours compliance training mandated
Vietnam targets 50 hours training per worker by 2025
70% fast fashion workers lack leadership development
Digital skills training covers 25% globally
H&M apprenticeships for 10,000 youth annually
Levi's trained 80% on ethical sourcing

Training and Development Interpretation

While a handful of brands are finally stitching more than just seams by investing in training, the industry's overall effort remains a threadbare patchwork, where the average worker is left with less instruction than it takes to assemble a flat-pack bookshelf.

Turnover and Retention

Annual turnover rate in fast fashion factories is 100% in Bangladesh
H&M supplier factories report 80% annual attrition rate
Cambodia garment sector turnover hit 45% in 2022
Shein factories see 150% turnover due to intensity
Zara India suppliers have 65% voluntary quits yearly
Pakistan fast fashion turnover 90% driven by low pay
Primark global supply chain attrition 70%
Boohoo UK factories turnover dropped to 50% post-scandal
Ethiopian H&M factories 120% turnover rate 2023
Gap Inc. reports 55% retail staff turnover annually
Chinese fast fashion piece-rate leads to 200% turnover
Indonesia apparel turnover 75% post-COVID
Myanmar fast fashion turnover spiked to 100% amid unrest
Sri Lanka MAS turnover 40% improved via retention programs
UK fast fashion retail turnover 90% for entry-level
Morocco Zara suppliers 60% annual quits
Vietnam turnover costs industry $1B yearly
65% of leavers cite pay as reason in Bangladesh surveys
Retention bonuses cover only 15% of fast fashion workforce
H&M retention rate improved to 35% with training
Levi's retention 60% in certified factories only

Turnover and Retention Interpretation

The fast fashion industry's astronomical turnover rates reveal a brutal truth: the business model is fundamentally built on treating human labor as a disposable commodity, not a sustainable resource.

Workforce Demographics

In 2023, 75% of fast fashion workers globally are women
Fast fashion employs over 75 million workers worldwide as of 2022
80% of garment workers in Bangladesh, a key fast fashion hub, are under 30 years old
In Vietnam, fast fashion factories have 65% female workforce aged 18-25
90% of Shein's supply chain workers in China are migrant women
H&M's global workforce totals 107,000 employees in 2023, with 78% women
Inditex (Zara) has 165,000 employees, 75% female in retail and manufacturing
Fast fashion sector in India employs 45 million, 85% women in low-skill roles
60% of fast fashion workers in Cambodia are ethnic minorities
Average age of fast fashion factory workers in Pakistan is 24 years
70% of Primark suppliers' workers are female migrants
Boohoo Group's workforce is 70% under 35 in UK operations
82% of fast fashion workers in Ethiopia are women
Gap Inc. reports 95,000 associates, 80% women in supply chain
55% of fast fashion executives are women in top brands like Zara
In Turkey, 68% of apparel workers for fast fashion are young females
ASOS supply chain has 75% workforce from ethnic minorities
40% of fast fashion workers globally have disabilities underreported
Levi's fast fashion lines employ 67% women in Asia factories
72% of Next plc's global staff are part-time females under 30
Fast fashion in Myanmar has 88% female workforce pre-coup
Uniqlo (Fast Retailing) has 52,000 employees, 65% women
76% of Superdry suppliers' workers are young women
In Sri Lanka, 83% of MAS Holdings workers for fast fashion are women
62% of fast fashion retail staff in Europe are millennials
Forever 21's US workforce is 70% Hispanic women
69% of Missguided factory workers are under 25
In Morocco, 77% of Zara suppliers' staff are female youth
Urban Outfitters group has 28,000 employees, 68% women
74% of fast fashion logistics workers are male migrants

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

Behind the trendy $5 t-shirt is a stark reality: the fast fashion industry is predominantly powered by the labor of young women and marginalized groups, who form the vast majority of its 75-million-strong global workforce yet remain the most vulnerable within its rapid, relentless cycle.

Sources & References

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