According to the US Department of Labor employment in personal care and service occupations is anticipated to grow by 20 percent over the projection period (2008-2018), adding more than 1 million jobs. As consumers become more concerned with health, beauty, and fitness, the number of cosmetic and health spas will increase, causing an increase in demand for workers in this group. This is no surprise for industry professionals who are noticing consumers becoming more concerned with health, beauty, and fitness. Naturally the number of cosmetic and health spas will increase, causing an increase in demand for qualified professionals.

More specifically, skin care specialists will experience a growth of 38% from 2008-2018 as consumers increasingly care about their personal appearance and self-improvement. Cosmetologists are also going to experience a significant 20% increase over the same ten-year time frame. Employment is also expected to grow faster than average at 17% for make-up artists as the demand for television programs, movies, and other entertainment will lead to new openings.

Job opportunities will be roughly equal to the number of applicants according to the USDL - particularly for licensed applicants seeking entry-level positions. A large number of job openings are expected to occur from 2008-2010 from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or retire. The USDL also states that opportunities will be favorable for those licensed to provide a broad range of services. For this reason we recommend our students combine multiple courses in order to be more competitive once they enter the job market. Qualified, licensed professionals have many growing opportunities in the beauty and wellness industry. As the industry grows it is important to continue educating yourself on the latest trends and techniques.

In addition to the USDL, The International Spa Association (ISPA) released key finding in their 2009 Spa Industry Update - including these statistics:

• Overall industry revenues continued to grow at an annual rate of 17.8 percent, while at a per spa level revenue experienced a slight decline.
• Day spas continue to dominate the industry at 79 percent of total spas.
• ISPA members average more revenue, visits, employees and space by significant margins.
• When looking at spas by type, the number of medical spas continues to grow at the fastest rate.  Since July 2007, the number of medical spas has grown by 85 percent, further proof that this spa type is still a notable part of the industry. 
• The number of locations in the U.S. has experienced a five-year average growth of 17 percent.
  

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Monster.com recently ranked Massage Therapists as #3 in their article on "Five Surprising $100K Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree". Read the article below to learn more.

Five Surprising $100K Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree*
By Charles Purdy, Monster Senior Editor
The rising cost of getting a college degree has put attending a traditional four-year college or university out of reach for many people -- and a handful of experts have recently made headlines by saying that a college degree simply isn't worth the massive debt a young person typically incurs in its pursuit.

For now, in many fields, a college degree is required for entry -- you simply won't get in the door for a job interview without one. But there are a number of careers that don’t require a degree and where income potential is very high. According to compensation experts at PayScale, there are five fields in which most workers don't have a college degree -- and in which the top 10 percent earn more than $100,000.*

3. Licensed Massage Therapist (90th Percentile Pay: $112,000; Median Pay: $52,200)*

This career really lets you reach out and touch someone. Massage therapists can specialize in more than 80 different types of massage, including Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, reflexology, acupressure and sports massage. The BLS predicts employment in this field will grow faster than average as more people learn about the benefits of massage.

This is a great career for people who need a flexible or part-time schedule -- many therapists work part-time or are self-employed. Most states require formal training before granting a massage license.

* Methodology: Salary data provided by PayScale.com. Salaries listed are for experienced workers (at least five years of experience) and include any bonuses, commission or profit sharing. Median pay represents the national median; 90th percentile pay is a benchmark for the top earners: 10 percent of people will earn more, while 90 percent will earn less.

Our Top 10 Reasons to Choose a Career in Beauty & Wellness

1. Unlimited income potential
2. Numerous career opportunities
3. Flexible work and life schedule
4. High demand and recession proof
5. Artistic and creative
6. Multiple businesses at the same time movies, salons/spas, runway
7. Highly stimulating and always evolving
8. High fashion and trend setting
9. People business that allow you to change lives
10. Make a difference both in your community and with your clients