Would you enjoy helping people to look and feel good? Are you interested in developing your practical and creative skills? If so, this career area may be what you’re looking for.
Fashion trends and the development of new cosmetic, beauty and hair care products are important factors for change in the industry. The use of barber shops has been growing due to the trend for male grooming with beard grooming being very popular.
This career area includes: hairdressing, barbering, salon management, beauty therapy, nail therapy, spa therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, make-up artistry and body art (tattooing and piercing).
Related work is also available in other areas such as: reception (although online booking is growing in popularity in larger salons and salon chains), sales, marketing, and hospitality and tourism (in health spas and holiday resorts).
To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Pathway.
Possible employers include:
The Health and Wellness spa industry in the UK currently has a revenue of £7.9 billion. Due to a rise in international tourist numbers and a greater focus on wellbeing this is expected to grow. Through to 2029-30, industry revenue is anticipated to grow at a compound interest rate of 3.2% to reach £9.3 billion. 1
Over the five years through 2029-30, hairdressing and barbering revenue is anticipated to rebound at a compound annual rate of 2.5% to reach £6 billion. 2
In 2024 in Scotland, there were 13,200 people working in this industry, with 8,700 hairdressers and barbers, and 4,600 beauticians and related occupations. 4
The total hair, beauty and barbering UK workforce declined again by 16,628 (7.5%) in 2023 with declines in both male and female employees. However, the number of hair & beauty businesses in the UK increased by 1,240 (2.5%) last year. 4
Levels of self-employment in the industry are high. Around 58% of people working in hairdressing and beauty are self-employed. 4
According to an industry survey, 75% of businesses said that it is more difficult to recruit compared to 12 months ago. There continues to be a lack of experienced staff and a drop in apprenticeship starts. 5 However, hair and beauty businesses remain resilient, with survival rates for businesses across all categories remaining more or less stable. 4
You will find useful information on careers and qualifications in the industry on the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (Habia) website.
1 Market Report: Beauty Therapy, Business Gateway, (May 2025)
2 Market Report: Hairdressing Salons and Barber Shops, Business Gateway, (September 2024)
3 Annual Population Survey - Occupation by sex, employment status and full/part-time - Scotland, NOMIS, (January - December 2024)
4 2024 Industry Statistics for Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty, National Hairdressing and Beauty Federation (NHBF)
5 State of the Industry Survey Summary – January 2025, National Hairdressing and Beauty Federation (NHBF)
6 Annual Population Survey - Occupation by sex, employment status and full/part-time - UK, NOMIS, (January - December 2024)
7 Market Report: Nail Technician, Business Gateway (February 2025)
Courtesy of Lumia Spa Stirling
