More Finding The Right Fit With 20% Leap In Fitness Jobs
The Age
Wednesday March 19, 2008
PEOPLE whose main job was in sport or physical recreation at the time of the 2006 census jumped more than 20% from the 2001 survey, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
The ABS report released yesterday showed that in 2006, 75,155 people were employed in sport and physical recreation occupations, an increase of 21.6% compared with 2001. The largest numbers were reported for fitness instructors (13,800), greenkeepers (12,138) and swimming coaches or instructors (7588). Most of them were men, with 59.1%, or 44,443 places, compared with 30,712 women. For all the increase, the financial rewards have not risen commensurately, as 52.1% received a gross weekly income between $250 and $799. Just more than 25% of workers received less than this amount and just more than 20% received more. One exception is John Gannon, one of 13,800 fitness instructors. The envy of his colleagues working in gyms or with private clients such as unfit executives, Gannon's goal is to help 2007 world No. 2-ranked pro surfer Taj Burrow make it to the top.He travels to the world's best surfing breaks and stays in luxury hotels, but Gannon said he was earning about the same as when he was conducting corporate training courses."My salary is about the same and I'm on a wage, except that Taj pays for the travel," said Gannon, 36. Burrow interviewed Gannon for the job last year, although the two had met previously. "I had a trainer-physio last year but this year I took on Johnnie and he's cracking the whip a bit harder," Burrow said.Gannon, who holds a certificate III in fitness, said he was studying the highly regarded courses in corrective holistic exercise kinesiology.World surfing No. 1 Mick Fanning is using the exercise to overcome a serious hamstring injury sustained in 2004."Training Taj is an intense job," said Gannon. "We started on the 7th of January and don't stop until late December."Mitchell Barrow, like Gannon, declines to use the term fitness trainer, preferring "movement specialist"."When working with an athlete, we look at the holistic approach to helping them reach their potential," said Barrow, 29, a graduate of human movement and sports science from Deakin University. His clients include surfer Jack Perry, who is on the World Qualifying Series, one rung below the World Championship Tour "dream tour".Rod Snow, associate professor in exercise sport science at Deakin University, recognises the interest."Undoubtedly it's getting more popular," he said. "The number of people seeking a place in our course has been steadily growing, (applicants last year) increased from 1100 to 1800 for about 70 places." Lauretta Stace, chief executive of industry association Fitness Australia, views fitness as a career with a future. "We have close to 18,000 registered fitness professionals nationally and 48% of NSW fitness businesses ranked personal training as their biggest growth market in the last 12 months," she said. "Personal training has seen a jump over the last couple of years of people completing their personal training qualification, surpassing group exercise instructors." Alison Aprhys is a freelance surfing and sports journalist.EMPLOYMENT IN SPORT 2006 v 2001JOCKEY648-476GOLFER1219+97GYMNASTICS COACH2046+614FITNESS INSTRUCTOR13,800+1436GUNSMITH178+29TENNIS COACH2146+369SWIMMING COACH7588+6701RIDING INSTRUCTOR606+41FOOTBALLER1453+68SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR1905+276RACING OFFICIAL539+129SPORTS UMPIRE2384-154
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