Each week, Just Style's journalists explore movements in job postings that shed light on hiring trends in our sector. These job signals provide insights into where the leading companies are focusing their recruitment efforts, and why. We reveal the skills that are in high demand in the sector, and the themes driving current hiring patterns.  

This new, thematic jobs coverage is powered by our underlying Disruptor data which tracks all major deals, patents, company filings, hiring patterns and social media buzz across our sectors.  

Data compiled by GlobalData suggests over half of the apparel companies hiring supply chain-based roles between 13 June and 13 July specialise in performance and athleisure garments.

The latest job postings reveal US manufacturers and online retailers of licensed sportswear and sports collectibles, Fanatics Inc had the most apparel supply chain roles over the past month (242). The retailer also posted 12 supply chain roles and closed five.

Other sports athleisure companies featured in the list included US manufacturer VF Corp, which owns performance brands including The North Face and Vans in third place with 175 active roles and Canadian multinational athletic apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. sits in fourth with 174 active roles.

Further down the list German sports brand Adidas AG takes seventh position with 38 active roles and US outerwear, sportswear, and footwear manufacturer Columbia Sportswear Co. is in eighth place with 35 active roles.

Why are athleisure fashion companies investing in the supply chain?

The data supports the wider trend of consumers opting for sports and athleisure garments since the height of the pandemic.

In fact, the sportswear market is expected to grow 25% between 2021-2025 as consumers continue to adapt to a lifestyle change linked to Covid, according to a GlobalData report published last January.

However, it's not just sports and athleisure-focused companies benefiting from the trend. The GlobalData report explains other retailers and brands such as M&S, Asos, Primark and Boohoo have all launched sportswear ranges, and are often able to offer lower prices and trend-led styles when compared with dedicated sports brands.

Other fashion companies investing in the supply chain, include garment branding labels and tags manufacturer Avery Dennison Corp with 195 active roles and China's online department store JD.com Inc in with 126 active roles.

Plus, US luxury department store chain Nordstrom Inc has 72 active supply chain-based roles, 42 posted apparel supply chain roles and 17 closed apparel supply chain roles.