The Health Care Boom

According to the 2009 AMTA Massage Therapy Industry Report and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care is the largest industry in the United States, employing more than 14 million people. Employment in health care is expected to grow by three million jobs between 2006 and 2016. Currently, seven of the twenty fastest growing occupations are health care related. As more massage therapists work in health care settings, and more consumers look at massage therapy as a part of health care, growth in the health care sector will significantly impact the future of massage therapy.

The growth in health care is providing jobs for massage therapists
From 2005 to 2006, the percentage of massage therapists who worked in a health care environment increased from 10 to 13 percent. In 2008, that number increased to 27 percent. This trend is only expected to grow.

According to the 2008 AMTA Industry Survey results, many massage therapists currently earn additional income from jobs in health care:
*58 percent of massage therapists have another job beyond massage therapy.
*35 percent of those therapists work in a health care position.

This makes health care the number one profession massage therapists work in beyond massage.

Some massage therapists are transitioning into other health care careers
Even though massage is growing, the health care industry is growing at a faster rate. Because of this, massage therapists are being recruited to nursing schools, physical therapy programs, and other health care careers. In interviews with massage therapists who’ve left the profession, we found that some are pursuing careers in nursing or other health care professions. In fact, we have heard from many former AMTA members who were actively recruited by hospitals or nursing schools to change careers.

Posted by Peggy M. Huff, President/Executive Director
Center for Massage & Natural Health-Asheville, North Carolina

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