Regardless of the economy, people will always need to have their hair cut and look their best for a range of occasions, including job interviews. Combine this with the fact that hair and beauty treatments can’t be outsourced or automated, you start to realise that this is a rather appealing industry to become a part of.

So if making people look and feel their best is something that makes you glow, then pursuing a career in Hair and Beauty could be the perfect fit for you.

Spotlight on industry growth: Worker shortages

The number of Australians working as hairdressers grew very strongly over the last 5 years, and that number is expected to grow to 68,900 by 2023. Despite these encouraging figures, there has still been a recent shortage of hairdressers in Sydney and regional New South Wales, with employers finding it difficult to fill both junior and senior hairdressing roles.

TAFE NSW hair and beauty students are fully trained in all facets of their specialisation, to ensure that when they graduate with their industry recognised qualifications, they are completely job ready.

The top 5 in demand hair and beauty roles:

• hairdressers
• make-up artists
• beauty therapists
• massage therapists
• salon assistants

Spotlight on industry services: Be diverse

In an attempt to win over new customers, and retain existing customers, there is a growing trend towards hairdressing business providing ‘crossover’ services, to offer traditional hairdressing services, as well as complimentary beauty and cosmetic services, like spray tans, waxing, and make-up.

Additionally, businesses are also diversifying what they provide to their customers, by offering extras like online booking, wi-fi, and complimentary food or drink to customers in order to stand out and add to their value proposition. This means that hair and beauty workers will need a wider range of skills in areas like customer service.

Spotlight on future skills needs: Be in demand

The Hair and Beauty sector is constantly shaping, evolving, and advancing styles that not only reflect modern trends, but help to drive their creation as well. And while a sense of style, a flair for design, and a steady hand are all essential for aspiring hairdressers, employers also identified these skills as crucial for anyone looking to be employed in a salon or barber shop:

• active listening skills
• speaking
• service orientation
• critical thinking
• active learning
• Sales and marketing skills
• flexibility

TAFE NSW teachers are all industry experts who shape their courses to reflect modern trends evolving within the hair and beauty sector. So when you choose to study at TAFE NSW, you can be assured that the skills and knowledge you learn, will help you to start your hairdressing career the right way.

Spotlight on emerging industry areas: Barbering   

With the recent revival of barbershops making an impact in hairdressing, males have become increasingly active consumers of an increasing range of hair and skin care products and services.

To become successful within this growing market, beyond the traditional hairdressing techniques, hair and beauty workers will need to develop specialist skills in facial hair grooming and wet shaving.

If you’re keen to enter this emerging market, TAFE NSW offers the Certificate III in Barbering, which addresses all of the essential skills you need to cater to the hair and beauty needs of men.

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Sources: Industry employment forecast, job advertisement, top skills and qualifications, and employer data have been provided by TAFE Strategy. Employment forecast data was sourced from Deloitte Access Economics in February 2017. All job advertisement data was sourced from the Burning Glass Technologies’ Labor Insight™ Real-time Labor Market Information tool and is based on online job postings over a three month period between 17 April to 17 July 2018.