When it comes to understanding trends and the future of the massage industry, Burke Williams has consistently done that over the past 40 years from launching 10 luxury day spas across California to a popular skincare brand (H2V) that has been taking off, and this blog post fuses our experience to shed more light on what’s next.
In particular, looking at information and questions asked across a variety of platforms (Google, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, X and others) along with our internal data/insights, it’s interesting to see how the shortage of massage therapists is a recurring topic. And we have some feedback on that:
Why is there a massage therapist shortage?
Looking at the history of massage therapy it’s interesting to see the evolution over time and nowadays there are really two paths people take when looking at massage therapy as a career: Starting their own business which comes with a lot of challenges or working as a massage therapist for an established brand/spa.
Today, whether looking at Burke Williams internally or top luxury hotels that offer spa services, other day spas, etc. what really matters is hiring the best massage therapists that get excited each day going to work and practicing their art.
We believe the shortage in massage therapists now and in the future will be around optics (massage therapy is a true career) along with education, and we’re helping solve that.
Looking at massage therapy as a career
As we covered above, becoming a massage therapist and also turning that into a career is for those with a true passion, and Burke Williams offers continued education for people on our team that are experienced in the art of massage and looking to take their careers to the next level.
At the same time, keep in mind job opportunities as a massage therapist vary based on location and while a career as a massage therapist in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Jose, etc.) may focus on particular modalities (prenatal, sports, Swedish, etc.) it all boils down to the experiences guests have. Do they leave feeling happy, relaxed and recharged in the end?
Is there a high demand for massage therapists?
Not only is there a high demand for qualified and passionate massage therapists now, but also a variety of job opportunities for massage therapists across all stages whether you’re still in school, have been practicing for years or want to continue your education to do more.
Interested in exploring a career at Burke Williams? Let’s jump on a call.
