Estheticians are specialists who provide beauty and relaxation, yet the profession has one of the highest turnover rates. The main factors are the heavy physical labor involved in treatments, the emotional labor required to meet high client expectations for beauty, and the intense mental pressure from sales quotas for products and courses. This, combined with low fixed salaries early in the career and the instability of commission pay, leads many to feel that the compensation does not match the strain on their body and mind.
This article provides a detailed explanation of the factors leading to the high turnover rate in this profession, examining them from four perspectives: working conditions, compensation/benefits, workload, and career development.
Turnover Rates in the Living-related Service and Entertainment Industries (Reference Data)
| Category | Living-related Service and Entertainment Turnover Rate | Average Turnover Rate Across All Industries |
| Annual Turnover Rate | 20.1% (2022) | 15.0% (2022) |
| Turnover Rate within 3 Years (New University Graduates) | 46.5% (March 2022 Graduates) | 33.8% (March 2022 Graduates) |
| Turnover Rate within 3 Years (New High School Graduates) | 52.2% (March 2022 Graduates) | 37.9% (March 2022 Graduates) |
1. The Issue of Working Hours (Long Time Commitment Based on Appointments)
Since treatments are appointment-based, working hours often become irregular to suit customer convenience, and there is also a significant amount of work performed outside of treatment time.
Irregular Shifts and Long Time Commitment:
- Evening and Weekend Work: Customers often visit after work or on weekends, making evening, weekend, and public holiday work mandatory.
- Long Time Commitment: In addition to treatment time, counseling, chart (karte) documentation, cleaning, preparation, and tidying up extend the actual committed time for the shift.
Uncertainty of Break Time:
- If appointments are booked back-to-back, break times may be shortened or staff may be unable to take adequate rest.
After-Hours Practice and Training:
- Technical practice and training to learn new techniques or machine operations are often mandated outside of business hours, frequently resulting in unpaid overtime.
2. The Issue of Compensation and Benefits (Unstable Income and Expense Burden)
Despite the high level of technical skill and customer service required, unstable and low wage levels are a major factor in turnover.
Unstable Salary Structure:
- Low Fixed Salary and Commission Instability: Especially for assistants and junior staff, the fixed salary is often low, and income heavily relies on commission/incentives from the number of treatments performed or products sold. Life can become financially unstable during periods of low performance.
- Pressure to Meet Targets: There is intense pressure to constantly achieve sales goals to maintain a stable income.
Self-Payment of Expenses:
- Cases exist where staff must partially cover the cost of essential items like cosmetics, uniforms, or external training fees, which pressures the actual take-home income.
Difficulty Taking Paid Leave:
- Since the operation relies on individual appointment schedules, staff are reluctant to request paid leave, as it would lead to canceled bookings or an increased burden on colleagues.
3. Workload and Mental Stress (The Combination of “Heavy Labor” and “Emotional Labor”)
Physical strain from treatments is compounded by the mental burden of meeting customer expectations regarding “beauty.”
Significant Physical Strain:
- Heavy Labor: Massages and manual techniques require long periods of standing and applying significant force with the arms and fingers, leading to heavy physical strain.
- Occupational Illness: A high number of staff suffer from occupational illnesses such as back pain, tendonitis, and shoulder stiffness.
Mental Stress (Sales Quotas and Emotional Labor):
- Pressure of Sales Quotas: The requirement to sell high-value course contracts and cosmetics, in addition to treatments, is often the largest source of mental stress.
- High Level of Hospitality: Staff must maintain a high level of hospitality (emotional labor) regardless of their own feelings, as their role is to “heal” and “beautify” customers.
- Complaint Handling: Harsh evaluations and complaints from customers regarding treatment results or rejection of sales pitches contribute to mental exhaustion.
4. Issues with Career Development and Training Systems
Vague paths for skill acquisition and limited career progression options can lead to turnover.
Personalization of Training:
- Lack of Systematic Program: Technical guidance may rely on the personal methods of the salon or senior staff, often lacking a systematic training program.
- Dependence on Individual Effort: The speed of skill acquisition heavily depends on individual effort, making it easy for staff to become discouraged.
Feeling of Limited Career Progression:
- Career options are often limited to becoming a “Top Esthetician,” a “Store Manager/Manager,” or pursuing “Independence,” with few other specialized paths visible.
- Since sales performance is prioritized, evaluation in areas like technical instruction or store operations can be secondary.
The Structure of the Vicious Cycle
The esthetician industry experiences a vicious cycle: “Low fixed salary and unstable commission → Long hours from sales quotas and technical practice → Mental and physical exhaustion and anxiety over skills → Experienced staff quit → The burden of sales quotas and duties concentrates on the remaining staff.” In particular, the conflict between the ideal of “providing beauty” and the reality of “selling products” is a major factor accelerating turnover.
