Informal Dress Code Is Standard for Workers in the U.S.

Summary of Workplace Attire Trends in the U.S.

• Current Trends:

  • Work Attire:
    • 41% of U.S. workers wear business casual.
    • 31% opt for street clothes.
    • 23% wear uniforms.
    • Only 3% adhere to a business professional dress code.

• Gender Differences:

  • Women:
    • 51% wear business casual.
    • 30% wear casual street clothes.
    • 14% wear uniforms; 3% wear business professional.
  • Men:
    • Almost evenly split among business casual, street clothes, and uniforms.

• Historical Context:

  • The data is based on an August 2023 poll, the fifth time Gallup surveyed on this topic.
  • Since 2002, the overall percentages for uniforms and casual street clothes have been stable, while business professional attire has decreased.
  • There has been a noted increase in business casual attire since 2007.

• Impact of COVID-19:

  • Compared to 2019, business casual wear has increased by 7% among workers, while uniforms and business professional wear have decreased.
  • Telecommuters are more likely to wear business casual (58%) compared to non-telecommuters (24%).

Conclusion

The largest distinction in today’s workplace attire is between business casual and casual street clothes. Although the pandemic accelerated this trend toward casual wear, the proportion of the most casual attire has remained stable, indicating a shift primarily from professional clothing to business casual.