Extensive on-the-job training has become an integral part of working in today's textile mills. Technical training is designed to help workers understand complex, automated machinery, recognize problems, and restart machinery when the problem is solved.

Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, such as industrial machinery mechanics, also require extensive training. Training may help experienced workers advance to more skilled jobs or even supervisory positions.

Increasingly, training is offered to enable people to work well in a team-oriented environment. Many firms have established training centers or hosted seminars that encourage employee self-direction and responsibility and the development of interpersonal skills. Because of the emphasis on teamwork and the small number of management levels in modern textile mills, firms place a premium on workers who show initiative and communicate effectively.

Engineering applicants generally need a bachelor's or advanced degree in a field of engineering or production management. Degrees in mechanical or industrial engineering are common, but concentrations in textile-specific areas of engineering are especially useful. For example, many applicants take classes in textile engineering, textile technology, textile materials, and design. These specialized programs usually are found in engineering and design schools in the South and Northeast. As in other industries, a technical degree with an advanced degree in business can lead to opportunities in management.