Good news for massage therapists – the amount of job opportunities in the field of massage therapy may be increasing during the recent economic downturn.
According to an article by the Detroit Free Press, there is a strong demand for massage therapists, at least in Michigan, and a lot of laid-off workers are turning to massage therapy as a second career.
Interestingly, it’s not the economic downturn, and the accompanying stress, that’s causing the increased demand for massage therapists, rather, it’s a growing demand for massage therapists in the field of health care. The article lists hospitals, chiropractic offices, and nursing homes as the primary drivers of demand, and it also notes that other areas of the economy are also featuring massage therapy with hotels, malls, airports, and large vendors like Whole Foods hiring massage therapists like they never have before.
Indeed, the AMTA notes in its 2009 fact sheet that the field of massage therapy is one that is growing quickly, with an expected jump of 20 percent in the number of massage therapists nationwide from 2006 to 2016. However, the recession is affecting massage therapists differently all over the country. While some may see an increase in steady employment at locations such as malls and hospitals, others are undoubtedly experiencing a decline in the number or clients they see as the recession cuts back on people’s spending.
As a recipient or provider of massage therapy, what do you think? Has the recession improved the employment opportunities for massage therapists, or limited it? Write answers in the Leave a Reply box at the bottom of this post and continue the conversation.