On March 12th to 14th Chicago will be hosting America’s Beauty Show. Since 1912, this annual event has showcased cutting edge cosmetology including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology. Many technology advances will be spotlighted including new hair and skin formulations as well as new engineering breakthroughs in blow dryers and clippers.
The Salon and Spa Industry Provided Much Needed Job Growth During The Recent Recession
According to recent Labor Department figures, almost 10% of America’s overall population is either unemployed, underemployed (involuntarily working part-time) or has just given up looking for work. Contrast this with the beauty field, which presents a positive jobs creation role model.
One only needs to look at recent history to see that the salon and spa industry is an engine of job growth for the U.S. economy, even when many other industries are shedding jobs. During the challenging economic decade of 2000 to 2010 that included two recessions, job growth in the U.S. economy stagnated.
In fact, between January 2000 and January 2010, the nation’s private sector declined by 3 percent in shedding 3.2 million jobs. In contrast, employment-based salons and spas added 70,000 jobs during the same 10-year period, which represented an increase of 17 percent.
Overall, salon industry job growth outperformed the overall economy in 11 of the last 14 years. No Lost Decade for the Salon and Spa Industry
Strong Prospects For R&D, Scientific, Engineering, Manufacturing And Technical Talent
Technical recruiting in the beauty field is also growing. The need for new research and development and scientific personal to develop new hair and beauty care formulations is growing. Staffing up key manufacturing talent is also critical to produce beauty industry products.
As a result, jobs are plentiful for technology professionals in the beauty field. They can range from a product developer of the latest hairspray to an electrical engineer developing the key components of the latest hair clipper.
Opportunities To Be Your Own Boss
Almost 30% of those in the field are self-employed. Over 1.2 million professionals work in personal appearance occupations in the United States. Individuals in these occupations have a much higher rate of self-employment, as compared to the overall workforce.
Thirty-two percent of all individuals in personal appearance occupations are self-employed. In comparison, only seven percent of the overall U.S. workforce is self-employed.
Of the 786,000 Hairdressers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists, 34 percent (or 268,000) are self-employed.
Barbers have the highest proportion of self-employed individuals, at 36 percent.
Job Opportunities For Women and Minorities
The nation’s salon and spa industry provides many first jobs and career opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds, and has a broader representation of women and minorities than the overall U.S. workforce.
Eighty-five percent of individuals in personal appearance occupations are women, compared to 47 percent of employed individuals in the overall U.S. workforce.
Thirteen percent of individuals in personal appearance occupations are Black or African American, compared to a national average of 11 percent.
Eighteen percent of individuals in personal appearance occupations are Asian, compared to just six percent of the overall U.S. workforce.
Fifteen percent of individuals in personal appearance occupations are of Hispanic origin, slightly below the national average of 16 percent.
Sixty-one percent of all salon businesses are owned by women, compared to just 30 percent of businesses in the overall private sector.
Twenty-one percent of businesses in the salon industry are Black or African-American-owned, versus just seven percent of total private sector businesses.
Seventeen percent of salon businesses are Asian-owned, nearly three times the six percent Asian-ownership rate for businesses in the overall private sector.
Nine percent of salon businesses are Hispanic owned. This matches the proportion of Hispanic business ownership in the overall private sector.
The Beauty Field Is Strong, Growing And An Engine For Minority And Women Opportunities
In summary, the beauty field is a growing one. There are many opportunities for women, minorities and technology professionals. Job candidates can find employment either working for someone or starting their own salon. Hiring is on the rise including technical recruitment of engineers, scientists, R&D and other technology experts.
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