Massage-School Enrollment, Graduate Numbers Decline

After nearly a decade of growth, massage-school student enrollments and graduations have declined from 2004 to 2006, even as the number of training programs for massage therapists grew during that period, according to new research by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a national professional massage association.

Enrollment declined 9.8 percent from 73,933 entrants in 2004 to 66,653 in 2006, according to an ABMP press release. Graduates of massage-therapy programs in 2006 totaled 62,784, versus 71,272 graduates in 2004, a decline of slightly less than 12 percent.

"While on the surface these census results may appear troubling to some in the massage community, ABMP considers this a healthy market correction," said Les Sweeney, ABMP president.

Other recent ABMP research conducted by Harstad Strategic Research has shown continuing growth in consumer demand for massage.

"Our broad perspective is that the massage-training universe may have overreacted to the growing consumer demand," Sweeney said. "Some excellent training programs already in the market expanded and other well-thought-out programs emerged. But programs also emerged that were less well-planned and more motivated by the trendiness of massage training."

With a U.S. massage-therapist population of 250,000, the entrance of another 70,000 massage graduates to the field each year was not sustainable, according to Sweeney.

"It would not be surprising to see a further reduction in the number of massage-training programs during the next few years," he said. "The landscape has become more competitive. Those with quality instruction, passion for the field, and effective student recruitment and support are more likely to thrive."