Massage therapy is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, according to a new study published by 24/7 Wall Street that contains data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics program.
According to the study, careers in massage therapy grew by 162 percent between 2002 and 2012. The study evaluated the growth rate of every type of profession in the nation that had at least 20,000 employees in the field. The only other professions that showed higher growth rates were interpreters and translators, music directors and composers, petroleum engineers and service unit operators in the oil, gas and mining industries.
A 162 percent growth rate is almost inconceivable, especially considering the economic conditions throughout the past decade. A story on the findings was recently published in 24/7 Wall Street and included an explanation from Martin Kohli, the chief regional economist for BLS.
Kohli said the baby boom generation created the need for massage therapists. As a large portion of the population ages, the demand increases.
New message therapy students, however, should not worry that the demand will subside with future generations. The BLS also cited the increasing number of spas and massage clinics as a contributor to the rapid increase in massage therapy jobs.
The study found that approximately 71,040 massage therapists are currently employed throughout the United States. Between 2002 and 2012 that number rose by 43,880. Findings also concluded that the median salary among massage therapists was $35,970. The figure may not seem high, however, it should be taken into account that most massage therapists work their own hours and many do it as a part-time career.
Massage therapy is, in general, becoming more and more accepted as a valuable component of the health care community. Health care providers are much more willing to advocate for massage therapy than they were in the past and have also helped contribute to the growing success of the field.
Statistics like these are always fun and it’s assuring to know that you are entering a career with promising hiring potential. At NC Massage School, we want our students to feel confident about getting a job but we also want them to look forward to their new careers because it is something they feel passionate about.
The massage therapy career path is one filled with hard work and satisfaction. The desire to work closely with other people is essential for students. Additionally, the eagerness to learn new skills and appropriately use those skills to ease people’s discomfort must also be genuine.
Just because there is a high demand for massage therapist does not mean the job is for everyone. At NC Massage School, we welcome enthusiastic, passionate, caring individuals into our massage therapy educational program. When our students obtain their certification, we are confident they will get hired, not because of the current state of the job market, but because we have honed in on the talents of special students who will make a positive impact on the field of massage therapy.
