Women carry the weight of the light industry: Belstat discusses current industry state
Celebrating the Day of Light Industry Workers: An Inside Look
Get ready to dive into the world of the light industry as we unveil the fascinating facts and figures from the latest official statistics. This sector, celebrated on the second Sunday of June, sheds light on the hardworking individuals who contribute significantly to our daily lives. Let's take a closer look at who's working, what they earn, and what they're producing.
Who's Making the Magic Happen
It's mostly ladies bossing the light industry, as women make up a whopping 79% of the workforce. Among them, around half have a technical education, demonstrating the industry's reliance on skilled professionals. Many of these dedicated workers are 44 years old, with 60% of them tying the knot.
Salary Info
The average monthly salary for workers in the light industry was Br1840.8 in January-April 2025 – a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.
Organizational Structure
Belarus has over 2,000 commercial companies operating in the light industry, employing an average of 85,000 people annually. Here's how the production is distributed among organizations:
- 2% large organizations account for 57% of the total industrial output.
- Medium-sized organizations (4%) account for 14% of the production.
- Small companies (27%) produce 23% of the goods.
- Micro-organizations (67%) account for only 6% of the production.
Geographically, the majority of light industry enterprises are located in the Vitebsk (23%) and Brest (18%) regions, with the fewest in Gomel (9%) and Minsk (10%). However, the capital still contributes 12% to the total number of organizations.
What They're Making
The light industry primarily focuses on creating clothing (46%) and fur and leather goods (41%). Footwear accounts for 9% of production, while fabrics and textile products comprise 4%. In recent years, light industry enterprises have started producing innovative goods for the domestic market, such as improved glass fiber fabrics and threads, new woolen fabrics, heated outerwear with power bank connections, and aramid fiber products, including high-temperature resistant tapes and laces.
Exporting Goodness Around the Globe
Over 65% of the produced goods are exported, making Belarusian light industry products available in 73 countries worldwide. The industry is exhausting its efforts to raise the profile of Belarusian goods, particularly in distant regions.
While specific product details aren't fully detailed in available information, the light industry in Belarus, notably the Bellegprom Concern, primarily focuses on manufacturing consumer goods such as textiles, clothing, footwear, and various other products. For a deeper understanding of the industry's offerings, detailed reports or data from the Bellegprom Concern or relevant Belarusian government agencies are recommended.
- Beyond the numbers, it's intriguing to note that women dominate the light industry, with an impressive 79% of the workforce.
- The light industry, a crucial sector in health-and-wellness and the women's health segment, has seen a 14% rise in average monthly salaries as of January-April 2025, reflecting the industry's financial growth and business expansion.
- The light industry, a significant part of the science and business spectrum, represents a substantial part of Belarus's economy, with over 2,000 commercial companies contributing to various health-and-wellness products, such as clothing, footwear, and innovative goods like improved glass fiber fabrics.
