9781422270639

because they are viewed as a popular low-cost luxury service. The need for skincare specialists will expand as a result of the growing population, an increasing interest in fighting the effects of aging, and the need to replace workers who leave the field. Despite the strong employment growth in these and other beauty professions, it’s important to remember that many occupations in the beauty industry pay less than the average for all careers. Many people start out in entry-level cosmetology and nail and skin care positions before launching their own businesses (which can allow them to earn higher incomes) or leaving the field for higher-paying careers. People love beautiful clothes, hip handbags and sneakers, fashion blogs and other social media sites, fashion reality shows, and almost anything to do with the fashion world. Many people want to enter this relatively small industry because it seems exciting, creatively fulfilling, and lucrative. As a result, competition for full-time job is strong. Employment for fashion designers—one of the most popular fashion careers—is expected to grow only 3 percent from 2021 to 2031. And demand for self-employed fashion designers will actually decline due to competition from large-scale clothing retailers that employ many designers and that can create designs less expensively than one- or two-person firms. Job opportunities for models are expected to grow faster than the average, but this prediction can be misleading, because many jobs are part-time and low-paying, and only about 500 new modeling positions become available each year in the United States. The bottom line: The fashion industry is highly competitive, and it takes extreme talent, drive, and ambition to land the best jobs. An easier way to break into the industry is to enter via business, social media, merchandising, marketing, and advertising positions. Many more job openings are available in these careers, and they also offer better opportunities for advancement.

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Is a Beauty or Fashion Career for You?