Employment of massage therapists is expected to increase by 19% from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations according to the 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment will grow as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.
As an increasing number of states adopt licensing requirements and standards for therapists, the practice of massage will continue to grow in respect and be accepted by more and more people.
Massage offers specific benefits to particular groups of people, whose continued demand for massage services will lead to overall growth for the occupation. For example, as workplaces try to distinguish themselves as employee-friendly, providing professional in-office, seated massage for employees is becoming a popular on-the-job benefit.
The number of spas employing a large number of therapists has increased in recent years and will continue to do so.
At the same time, there are an increasing number of massage clinic franchises, many of which offer massages cheaper than at spas and resorts, making them available to a wider range of customers.
Older citizens in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities also are finding benefits from massage, such as increased energy levels and reduced health problems. Demand for massage therapy should grow among older age groups because they increasingly are enjoying longer, more active lives and persons aged 55 years and older are projected to be the most rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population over the next decade.
Also, there is an increasing amount of mentions in movies and T.V. about Massage Therapy. We all know of Pheobe on “Friends” and Barbara Streisand did a bit on “Meet the Fockers”, the list goes on and on. There are several places in the media where Massage Therapy and it’s benefits are being mentioned. Dr. Oz and some of the daytime T.V talk shows have talked about Massage Therapy many times in the last few years. I think it has been a huge part of increasing the growth of it’s popularity and therefore promoting more Massage jobs!
Also, there is an increasing amount of mentions in movies and T.V. about Massage Therapy. We all know of Pheobe on “Friends” and Barbara Streisand did a bit on “Meet the Fockers”, the list goes on and on. There are several places in the media where Massage Therapy and it’s benefits are being mentioned. Dr. Oz and some of the daytime T.V talk shows have talked about Massage Therapy many times in the last few years. I think it has been a huge part of increasing the growth of it’s popularity and therefore promoting more Massage jobs!