The coaching and sports training industry is on the upswing post pandemic. In 2020 and early 2021, schools, gyms, pools, stadiums, and fitness centers closed or were operating at reduced capacity, with many workers in this field finding themselves out of work or working reduced hours on site or remotely. Schools transferred their athletic programs to remote platforms, and school coaches had reduced work. Professional sports leagues continued their training and games despite empty stadiums, and some experienced long disruptions. Since then, however, a stronger economy has produced an increase in disposable income, and more people are again participating in sports. In addition, the world’s continued focus on combating obesity with healthy nutrition and fitness programs bodes well for the industry.
The Department of Labor predicts that coaches and scouts will have 9 percent employment growth through 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. As of May 2023, approximately 307,100 coaches and scouts are employed in the United States. About 60 percent work in state, local, and private schools; 21 percent work in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector. Only 13 percent of coaches and scouts are self-employed. More students are participating in high school and college sports, which will create more job opportunities for coaches and scouts. The states that employ the greatest number of coaches included California, Ohio, Texas, New York, and Florida. Increased participation in college sports is projected, with growth in small, Division-III colleges and in women’s sports. Small colleges are expanding their athletic programs and creating new sports teams to catch the attention of potential students. One possible drawback may be the new rules that allow an increase in scholarship funding to student-athletes, which could cut the funding for sports programs at small colleges.
Competition for college-level coaching positions and college-level and professional scouts will continue to be intense. There will be more job opportunities for high-school level coaches who have a degree or are certified to teach academic subjects. Also, since more girls and women are participating in sports teams and leagues, there will be employment opportunities for coaches in girls’ and women’s sports.
There were approximately 350,100 fitness trainers and instructors employed in the United States in May 2023, and that number is projected to increase by 14 percent through 2033, according to the Department of Labor, a rate that is much faster than the average. The top cities for employment of fitness trainers and instructors are New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Boston; and Washington, D.C. Employment growth will come from the incentives that businesses, government, and insurance companies give to their employees to join gyms or health clubs. Some companies may open their own gyms and fitness facilities on site to make it convenient for employees to stay fit and healthy. The continued emphasis on staying active for good health and weight control, particularly with the baby-boom generation, will also create more jobs for fitness trainers and instructors.
Thanks to modern science and medicine, people are living longer and are staying healthier and active in their older years than past generations. The National Institute on Aging reports that “on a global level, the 85-and-over population is projected to increase 351 percent between 2010 and 2050, compared to a 188 percent increase for the population aged 65 or older and a 22 percent increase for the population under age 65.” This increased life expectancy means older people will continue to need low-impact exercise programs, such as water aerobics, yoga, and Pilates, to stay flexible, maintain core strength and stamina, and to prevent injuries and illnesses. Fitness trainers and instructors with professional certification and higher levels of formal education in fitness and health will have better chances of securing work than those with less education and credentials.
Athletic trainers are expected to have excellent job opportunities in the coming years, with 13 percent employment growth projected through 2033, according to the Department of Labor. This much-faster-than-average growth is due to heightened awareness of sports-related injuries, such as concussions, and increased demand for athletic trainers as part of sports programs. Some states require that secondary schools employ athletic trainers to be onsite at practices and games. There were approximately 34,300 athletic trainers employed in the United States in May 2023. The majority work in colleges, universities, and professional schools, health practitioners’ offices, hospitals, recreation and amusement industries, and elementary and secondary schools. Approximately 7 percent of athletic trainers in the United States are self-employed. The growth of the older population, with more middle-aged and elderly people staying active than ever before, will also create jobs for athletic trainers, who will be needed to help people maintain fitness and recover for sports-related injuries. Athletic trainers will also be needed by organizations to help injured employees recover from injuries and also to educate and train people to ensure fewer injuries occur. Athletic trainers will also continue to be employed on military bases to train and rehabilitate military personnel who have been injured. Job opportunities will be best for athletic trainers with a bachelor’s or master’s degree and certification in athletic training.
Post pandemic, remote platforms for exercise, online classes, and personal training are expected to continue being popular. In addition, according to a Bloomberg.com article, the fitness industry experienced growth during the pandemic in the areas of yoga and mindfulness-related classes. More people are now combining online with in-person workouts. Some brick-and-mortar gyms still offer these hybrid workouts and on-demand fitness programs. The research group Statista projected a nearly 6.4 percent growth rate from 2024 to 2029 in the U.S. digital fitness and well-being market. Many people realized during the pandemic that digital fitness platforms were convenient and accessible, and significant growth in digital fitness is expected to continue.