Massage Therapy Career Fact Sheet
Massage therapy is a highly rewarding career that uses practical application of the sciences, enlivened by the creativity of the healing arts. NHITA equips graduates to be successful and competitive in this growing health care profession with a thorough and knowledgeable education.
American Massage Therapy Association data on working in a Health Care environment:
OUTLOOK FOR THE MASSAGE THERAPY PROFESSION: Employment opportunities are expected to grow for massage therapists. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Labor information, employment opportunities for massage therapists are expected to grow at a much faster than average rate as more people become interested in alternative medicine and holistic healing. It's estimated that between 2012 and 2022, massage therapists are likely to see a 23 percent increase in job opportunities as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.
HEALTH CARE AND MASSAGE THERAPY: Between 2012 and 2020, the health care industry is expected to grow at a quick pace, adding 5 million jobs. For perspective: In 1998, only 7.7 percent of hospitals were offering complementary and alternative therapies. By 2011, that number had risen to 42 percent. Who's driving growth? In many cases, it's consumers and patient populations in varying health care environments that are asking for complementary and integrative therapies like massage therapy. For example, results from the Health Forum Survey of Hospitals conducted by the American Hospital Association shows the No. 1 criteria a hospital uses to select a complementary and integrative care is through patient demand.
View the current AMTA Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet for more detailed information.
