General Career Information: Massage Therapy Jobs
Massage therapy offers a wealth of career opportunities for practitioners. Find out about current trends in massage therapy and where the career is headed.
Why do people choose careers in massage therapy? A strong desire to heal others through the power of hands-on touch is certainly a leading reason. However, there are other strong reasons as well. For example, this is a job market with a great employment outlook for the foreseeable future. Additionally, massage therapy is a career with a lot of potential for flexible scheduling and self-employment. With new niches opening up in green massage and affordable massage, many people are finding that there's a place for them in this industry.
Current Trends in Massage Therapy Employment
There are a few employment trends that people interested in a massage therapy career should know about. One notable trend in massage therapy is the trend towards self-employment. The BLS reports that 57 percent of massage therapists are self-employed. These people may work as independent contractors for larger massage therapy businesses or they may operate their own businesses.
Another trend to be aware of is that a majority of people who work in massage therapy are only employed part-time. The BLS reports that in 2008 48 percent of massage therapists were working part time and another 19 percent had variable schedules. In general, massage therapists with a longer work history are more likely to be employed full-time. Notably self-employed massage therapists may work more than 40 hours per week including both their business activities and hands-on massage work.
Finally, it is worth knowing that there is a trend towards massage therapy employment in metropolitan areas. The careers that aren't in dense urban areas tend to be in resort and vacation destinations where the majority of jobs are located in the hotels and resorts.
Current Trends in Massage Therapy Jobs
In addition to the employment trends in massage, it is important for those engaging in massage therapy studies to know about some important trends in job types in the industry. Other than self-employment, some of the most popular new types of massage therapy jobs include:
Seated massage therapy offered in-office by massage therapists
Eco-friendly massage therapy
Massage therapy for elderly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities
Affordable massage therapy in clinics
Recent Changes in Massage Therapy
People who stay abreast of massage therapy industry news know that some of the most recent changes in massage therapy include:
The number of spas has increased.
The number of massage clinic franchises (which offer low-cost massages) has increased.
More states are adopting licensing requirements and mandating massage therapy education.
Expected Changes in Massage Therapy
There are some wonderful changes expected in the massage therapy industry in the years to come. The biggest change is an increase in job opportunities. The BLS reports an expected 19 percent employment increase for massage therapists between 2008 and 2018, a percentage that is much higher than the national average for general employment.
Another important change that experts predict is that massage therapy will be increasingly respected and accepted as a career choice. Social and cultural hang-ups about massage are going away thanks to an open-minded younger generation as well as the adoption of massage therapy education requirements by many states.
Kathryn Vercillo
Kathryn Vercillo is a full time freelance writer / blogger with nearly ten years of writing experience. She has authored two books and contributed to many other print publications. Previously Kathryn worked as the editor-in-chief of a small literary arts magazine and as the manager of a writing company that linked businesses with freelancers. Areas she has researched extensively include personal finance, real estate, travel, life-work balance and health and fitness.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Massage Therapists • Bureau of Labor Statistics
| 
