Three Reasons Massage Therapy Is an Up-and-Coming Career
When considering a career as a massage therapist, there’s always a flood of questions: “Will I be able to find a job?” “How long before I can work?” and of course, “Will there be demand?” Not to worry. Massage therapy is an up-and-coming career and a booming business. In fact, according to the U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics, by 2029, massage therapy is supposed to grow five times faster (20%) than the average rate of all careers.[i]
Why?
Read on, and discover three reasons massage therapy is such an up-and-coming career.
It’s a fast track from student to professional.
When your school is partnered with a good association, after only 400-hours of training you can take your exams and receive your diploma. At that point, you’ll be recognized by your school’s partnered association and immediately be able to issue insurance receipts.
Compared to a bachelor’s degree, a master’s or a technical accreditation, the track to becoming a massage therapist is extremely fast. And jobs are out there.
According to a 2018 study that surveyed 1200 massage therapists, 62% said that they found work in less than one month after graduation.[ii] And though the industry has changed since 2020 and Covid-19, statistics show that Canadian job postings for massage therapists have gone up 333% since the easing of Covid restrictions.[iii]
Massage therapy is more accepted by medical practitioners than ever before.
Thirty years ago, there were little to no studies on the benefits of massage therapy. Back then medical professionals considered it a form of pampering and nothing more. But nowadays, doctors and other medical practitioners commonly recommend massage to patients to help reduce pain, relieve tension and reduce stress.[iv]
With support from medical professionals, the demand for massage therapy can’t help but continue to grow. And in turn, so will the need for massage therapists.
A stressed society demands more massage therapists.
To a certain extent, we need stress to survive. But too much stress for too long can be harmful. There’s a growing body of evidence showing that stress is a contributing factor to health issues such as high blood pressure, physical tension, depression and anxiety, to name a few.[v] Stress is pervasive in our society, and massage therapy can help.
Studies show that the simple act of touch can reduce stress hormones in the body.[vi] Just imagine what the attentive and skillful touch of a professional massage therapist, reflexologist, or tuina practitioner can do.
With people more isolated and stressed out than ever before there has never been a greater need for massage therapy.
Conclusion
If you’re drawn to massage and other manual therapies as a possible career, know that there is ample opportunity. The route is fast, the fees are affordable, and the demand is high. With growing research, a rising acceptance in the medical world and a great social need for stress-reducing modalities, massage therapy truly is an up-and-coming career.
References
[i] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/massage-therapists.htm
[ii] https://massagetablesnow.com/blog/massage-therapist-career-satisfaction-study
[iii] https://lmic-cimt.ca/canadian-online-job-posting-dashboard/
[iv] https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-industry-fact-sheet/
[v] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/
[vi] https://neurosciencenews.com/couple-touching-stress-9242/
