Navigating evolving complexity in the apparel industry: employer expectations for managerial talent—evidence from Bangladesh

As the global apparel industry navigates increasing sourcing complexity, digital transformation, and evolving tariff structures, apparel firms are under growing pressure to recruit managerial talent capable of coordinating cross-functional operations and global supply chain demands. Against this backdrop, this study investigates employer expectations for managerial roles in Bangladesh’s apparel industry, the world’s second-largest exporter of ready-made garments. Drawing on Kunz’s (1995) Behavioural Theory of Apparel Firms, this study analysed 508 managerial job advertisements using content analysis, point-biserial correlation, and one-way ANOVA. Findings show that professional experience, communication skills, and digital proficiency are consistently prioritised across managerial categories, while technical educational degrees are not significantly associated with broader job responsibilities. Significant differences also emerged across job categories, with finance, marketing, and executive management roles exhibiting greater breadth of responsibilities than merchandising and operations. The study offers implications for recruitment, workforce development, and curriculum alignment in export-oriented and globally integrated apparel industries.