The Future of Cosmetology

According to BeautySchools.edu, the number of professional salon employees, 1.8 million, greatly outnumbers the number of lawyers across the United States today. The future for cosmetologists is looking very bright indeed, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The demand for cosmetologists is expected to grow by 16% between 2018 and 2028. This growth is expected to be the result of an increasing population, which will in turn lead to greater demand for the services of cosmetologists. The demand for hair coloring and other specialized hair services has increased in recent years, particularly among baby boomers trying to maintain a youthful appearance and young people seeking to be remain fashionable. This trend will no doubt continue, leading to a favorable job outlook for cosmetologists.

The outlook for manicurists, pedicurists, and skincare specialists is even brighter, mostly due to a continued rise in the number of full-service spas and nail salons, which will create many cosmetology job openings. Estheticians and other skincare specialists will also see large gains in employment, and these jobs are expected to grow almost 38 percent, primarily due to the popularity of skin treatments for stress relief, medical well-being, and as an opponent to the aging process. Opportunities for manicurists and pedicurists are projected to grow by 19 percent, according to BLS.

Job opportunities for cosmetologists should remain plentiful, especially for new graduates seeking entry-level positions.

As with other careers, a large number of job openings will come about from the need to replace workers who change careers, retire, or decide to leave the work force. Cosmetologists may face keen competition for jobs and clients at up-scale salons, as these positions are usually highly coveted and require applicants to compete with a large pool of experienced cosmetologists. Not surprisingly, job opportunities will generally be best for those with professional experience and those licensed to provide a broad range of services.

So if a cosmetology career is something you long for, you might be moving in the right direction. Cosmetology could be one of the few recession-proof careers; after all, things would have to get pretty bad for most people to prompt taking haircuts out of their budgets. In fact, as stress and anxiety about the economy rise, so does business at salons and spas, where clients can find relaxation and relief in the midst of the turmoil.