A health-conscious ageing population
Australia’s ageing and increasingly health-conscious population has seen an explosion in the number of fitness instructors. According to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, there were 8,000 fitness instructors operating in Australia in 1999.
Australia’s ageing and increasingly health-conscious population has seen an explosion in the number of fitness instructors.
According to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, there were 8,000 fitness instructors operating in Australia in 1999. In the past five years, the number of instructors has grown 36.7%, compared to 13.1% for all other occupations.
There are now 22,888 fitness instructors operating in Australia, with the number likely to increase by 252% to an additional 57,592 instructors by 2020.
Experts suggest there are several factors driving the growth, including the increasing number of people who are overweight or obese, and Australia’s ageing population. They also claim older people now have more time to work on their fitness and believe being fit will enable them to “better enjoy their retirement”.
However, it is also believed the growth in online learning is making it easier for people to study a fitness course without giving up their day job.
According to a survey by the Australian Fitness and Health Expo, almost 100% of consumers who visit heal??ing, fitness and ageing expos said they would purchase fitness and health products over the next 12 months, spending an average of $2,153.
The same survey found more than half of Australians want to get fit and improve their health.
