Overland Park, Kan. (March 21, 2018)–The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) announces findings from its 2017 Job Task Analysis (JTA). These findings, derived from the survey responses of thousands of massage and bodywork practitioners, indicate that massage and bodywork practitioners are overwhelmingly satisfied with their occupation.

Among significant data observed in the findings are 98 percent of practitioners who cited that they like being a massage therapist. Further, 97 percent of respondents indicated that they are happy that they entered the massage therapy profession. Ninety-seven percent of respondents cited that they are proud to be in the field. When asked about their enthusiasm for their occupation, 96 percent of respondents indicated that they were enthusiastic. Lastly, 94 percent of respondents indicated that they strongly identify with the massage therapy occupation.

“While we know that consumers enjoy many benefits from receiving massage, this is an extraordinarily high amount of positivity and satisfaction exhibited by massage and bodywork professionals,” said FSMTB Executive Director Dr. Debra Persinger. “To be part of a helping and healing profession has intrinsic rewards and we are glad to be able to measure some of the value that massage and bodywork professionals experience.”

The Job Task Analysis is undertaken every five to seven years by the FSMTB to ensure that the profession’s sole licensure examination, the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), reflects current practice. The complete 2017 Job Task Analysis will be released once analysis of the data is complete. For more information and to access prior iterations of the Job Task Analysis, please click here.

FSMTB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, membership organization composed of massage and bodywork regulatory and licensing boards and agencies from 40 states, the District of Columbia, and the territory of Puerto Rico. FSMTB’s mission is to support its member boards in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public in a safe and effective manner.