Massage Makes Me Happy Initiative

2024 Trends

TREND 1: Massage Therapists’ Career and Demographics

Working as a massage therapist offers many opportunities in the growing industry of wellness and employment for professional massage therapists continues to rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that massage therapist employment will grow 18% through 2032, which is faster than the average for all US occupations.  Because of this, the number of US practicing massage therapists has increased by 8% over the last decade. The massage profession is predominantly female, and nearly half of all massage therapists (42%) have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Massage therapy is rarely the first career choice for most massage therapists, and many find their way to this career mid-life.

Sources:
bls.gov
amtamassage.org
zippia.com

TREND 2: Massage Therapists’ Use of Tech Touch Therapies is on the Rise

Tech touch therapies and equipment gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for consumers to manage their pain and stress during those no-touch years.  Since then, spas and massage therapists have continued to integrate tech touch therapies with massage treatments as consumers have enjoyed the benefits of these services.  Tech touch therapies include meditation loungers, infrared therapy, salt booths, vibratory tools and E-stim machines.  Massage therapists are discovering that this equipment helps support their sessions and seems beneficial to use in treatments before, during and post massage. In addition, massage therapists use tech touch therapies and equipment for self-care, helping them stay healthy as well.

Source: amta-2023-student-fact-sheet.pdf (amtamassage.org)

TREND 3: Medical Providers Are Recommending Massage

Medical providers and doctors are increasingly viewing massage therapy as a complementary option to address health concerns. Consumers are talking with their healthcare providers about massage, and those providers are recommending massage to their patients. This indicates an increased integration of massage therapy in healthcare environments. According to a new IRS ruling, massage therapy can now be a qualified medical expense. This ruling states “Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or disease prevention and the costs for affecting any part of function on the human body.” Massage therapy is increasingly being viewed as a traditional, evidence-based therapy rather than an alternative therapy by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (the NIH agency that funds research on health).

Sources:
amtamassage.org
nih.gov
Spa Theory

TREND 4: Distance Learning for Massage Students

Massage therapy schools have increased their online course offerings as part of entry-level education over the past few years, giving massage students more flexibility in their education. Because of COVID-19, many schools shifted some courses to online, especially business, ethics, anatomy and physiology courses. As massage schools modernize, many have updated their programs to include hybrid education where some courses are completed online, and hands-on technique courses are completed in-person. Offering hybrid education programs is one way to answer the demand of today’s students for easier access to education via technology and online learning.

Sources:
amtamassage.org

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