COVID-19 Drives North American Protective Footwear Market to Streamline Supply Chains and Pursue Inorganic Growth

Elevated Market Competition Creates a Wave of Mergers & Acquisitions

This research presents an assessment of the current status and future prospects of the North American protective footwear market. In 2020, the market generated revenue of $2,134.0 million; the safety shoe segment accounted for 60.1% of that and will experience strong revenue generation, albeit marginally, during the forecast period, driven by high adoption in the construction, manufacturing, transport, and hospitality sectors.

Construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas (O&G) were the three major end-use industries, accounting for 15.8%, 14.1%, and 12.9% revenue share, respectively. However, O&G was the most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The major growth restraints were the temporary closure of fields during the peak months of the pandemic, reduced demand, and a drop in crude oil prices.

The United States accounted for 87.5% of the market revenue share. The country will experience a compound annual growth rate of (CAGR) of 3.7% from 2020 to 2025. Post-pandemic growth will be driven by strict safety compliance enforced by employers looking to safeguard their workers’ health. Manufacturers will streamline supply chains and pursue inorganic growth to ensure sustainability.

Adoption of protective footwear with improved anti-slip and metatarsal protection is a major technology trend: the high incidence of injuries caused by slips and trips and from falling objects has boosted demand for protective footwear with these properties. Also, end-user preference for athletic, lightweight, and easy on-and-off protective footwear has increased. Manufacturers are investing in research and development (R&D) to create products that offer adequate safety with better comfort and breathability.

Key Findings

Research Scope

• This report analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the North American protective footwear market.
• Market forecasts cover revenue generated from protective footwear sales in North America (Canada and the United States) between 2017 and 2025. Revenue is recorded in US dollars and is accounted for at the manufacturer level.
• End-use industries include construction; manufacturing; O&G; food processing; chemical processing; transport; and others, namely agriculture, pharmaceuticals, utilities, mining, healthcare, and hotels-restaurant-catering (HoReCa).
• For the purpose of this research, protective footwear is classified as a product worn to protect the wearer from foot injury hazards. The products are segmented by safety shoes and safety boots.
• Discussions include market drivers and restraints; industry, product, and technology trends; material innovations; competitive landscape, and growth opportunities.

Growth Opportunities