U.S.: Number of Employees in the Spa Industry, by year
YearNumber of employees,
in thousands
2023360.7
2022345.0
2021304.8
2020383.7
2019372.1
  • Region: United States
  • Time period: 2019 to 2023
  • Published: May 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Impact of the Pandemic on the Spa Industry Workforce

The year 2020 witnessed a sharp increase in the number of employees in the U.S. spa industry to 383.7 thousand, marking the highest employment level within the given timeframe. However, the subsequent year, 2021, saw a significant decline to 304.8 thousand employees, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction represents a drop of approximately 21% from 2020 to 2021, illustrating the pandemic's severe effects on employment within the spa sector.

Recovery and Growth Post-Pandemic

Following the pandemic-induced downturn in 2021, the spa industry demonstrated resilience and a strong recovery trajectory. Employment figures rebounded to 345.0 thousand in 2022 and further increased to 360.7 thousand by 2023. This upward trend signifies a recovery rate of approximately 18% over two years, indicating the industry's ability to bounce back and expand despite the initial setbacks.

Pre-pandemic Employment Levels Comparison

Comparing the employment levels before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is evident that the industry has not yet fully recovered to its pre-pandemic state. The year 2019 showcased an employment figure of 372.1 thousand, which remains higher than the 360.7 thousand employees recorded in 2023. This data highlights that, as of now, the industry is still 11.4 thousand employees short of reaching its former strength.

Overall Employment Trend Over the Years

Analyzing the employment trend from 2019 to 2023, there is a clear fluctuation in the number of employees within the U.S. spa industry. Despite the dramatic fall in 2021 and subsequent recovery, the total increase in employment from 2019 to 2023 amounts to a modest 3.7%. This gradual growth indicates a slow yet steady recovery and expansion pace in the post-pandemic era.

Annual Growth Insights

The year-over-year changes highlight significant variability in the spa industry's employment dynamics. The most notable decline occurred between 2020 and 2021, with a sharp drop of 21%. Contrastingly, the most substantial recovery is observed between 2021 and 2022, with a growth rate of approximately 13%. These figures underscore the volatility and resilience of the spa industry's employment landscape in response to external challenges and recovery phases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall employment trend in the spa industry?

The overall employment trend in the spa industry from 2019 to 2023 showcases a modest increase, signifying a growth of about 3.7%, despite a significant fluctuation during the pandemic.

Terms and Definitions

The spa industry refers to businesses that primarily offer health and wellness services such as massages, beauty treatments, hydrotherapy, sauna, and other relaxation treatments. This sector includes day spas, resort and hotel spas, destination spas, medical spas, and others.

Employees in the spa industry cover a wide range of job roles, including spa managers, beauty therapists, massage therapists, aestheticians, spa attendants, and receptionists. Their tasks can involve providing treatments, managing operations, maintaining cleanliness, dealing with reservations or bookings, among others.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) is a unit that indicates the workload of an employed person in a way that makes workloads or workforces comparable across various contexts. An FTE of 1.0 indicates that the person is equivalent to a full-time worker, while an FTE of 0.5 signals that the worker is only half-time.

A part-time employee typically works fewer hours than their full-time counterparts. The exact number of hours may differ from one organization to another, and from one country to another. They may not be entitled to the same benefits as full-time employees.

Contract workers or independent contractors work independently for a company or multiple companies under a contract for services. They typically do not enjoy the same rights and benefits as regular employees, and their employer does not withhold taxes from their paycheck.

Seasonal employees are hired to work on a temporary basis during a specific season or period of peak demand. They are common in industries that experience fluctuations in business volume, such as retail, hospitality, and the spa industry.
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The spa industry is booming, offering a wide range of services and treatments. Day spas, destination spas, and medical spas cater to different needs while wellness strategies, personalized experiences, and technological solutions are popular trends. Read more »
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