The development of national occupational standards covers various technical and business skill gaps. Nevertheless, the following technical and business skill gaps were still reported in the HABIA 2003 survey. The order in which they are displayed here represents the percentage of salons that reported this gap.

Beauty therapy skills gaps

Significant technical skill gaps (over 15 %) included laser/IPL hair removal, thread vein removal, Indian head massage, nail art, eyelash perming, artificial nails, skin tags/ wart removal. Business skills gaps were for example increasing retail sales, marketing and public relations, improving client care, business planning, understanding employment law and personnel practice, information technology, understanding health and safety legislation and business finance.

Hairdressing skills gaps

Significant technical skill gaps (over 15 %) are long hairdressing, hair extensions, colour correction, barbering, Indian head massage, artificial nails. Significant business skills gaps included improving selling skills and client care, marketing and public relations, understanding employment law and personnel practice, understanding health and safety legislation, business planning and finance.

Body Art (tattooing and piercing)

Technical skill gaps are understanding allergies and results of hygiene procedures, equipment maintenance, anatomy and physiology, intimate piercing and tattooing complications. Business skills gap are for example improving selling skills, information technology, business finance, business planning, marketing and public relations, understanding environmental health and safety legislation.

Barber skill gaps

Technical skill gaps include barbering (38%). Business skill gaps are improving selling skills, improving client care, understanding employment law and personnel practice, marketing and public relations, understanding environmental health and safety legislation.

Source: HABIA 2003

Source: HABIA 2004, compiled from tables 2.2.1, 4.2.1 and 5.2.1.

HABIA describes possible career pathways and occupational progression on a map. According to a chosen pathway potential career developments can be discussed. These maps are available for:

Being a good hairdresser or beauty therapist does not necessarily give one the skills needed to run a business. HABIA (2002) a noted lack of management/business skills among salon owners and the self-employed, as only 5% of managers or salon owners have management qualification above level 4.

Source: HABIA 2002