<p>In <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/09/06/britains-unemployment-is-ultra-low-but-its-wages-are-ultra-measly" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this recent article</a>, The Economist argues that one of the reasons behind the anaemic recent wage growth in Britain is that the recent job growth has been concentrated in lower-productivity jobs and cites the fact that <strong>the number of hairdressers in the UK is up 50% since 2010.</strong> How can that be?</p>

<p>The population is probably up c. 5% since 2010, which means that population growth can't explain this increase. It also seems far-fetched that people would consume 40-50% more haircuts per person per year. (As an example, that would mean that instead of getting a haircut once every 4 weeks or 13 times per year, you now get a haircut once every 2.7 weeks or 19.5 times per year.) What am I missing?</p>

<p>I ask this question because I do think that the growth of low-productivity jobs plays an important role behind stagnating real wages in the UK. (A continental European politician once commented on the British economy pivoting more and more towards services by saying, "you can't <em>all</em> make a living by opening doors for each other.")</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-30T21:32:05.743Z
[This source](https://www.statista.com/statistics/409073/number-of-hairdressers-beauty-salons-united-kingdom-uk/) re "hairdressing and other beauty treatments" shows a sudden leap in number between 2015 and 2016 suggesting a change in definition or classification. Note: you may find you can only view it once without paying.
Adam Bailey
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-30T23:32:56.023Z
Thanks. You're probably right. I have sent a letter to the editor at The Economist and will post an update here if I hear back from them.
Candamir
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2018-10-04T07:34:52.113Z
There has indeed been a large increase, especially of *nail bars* in high-street shops which previously sold other things. See for example a local report in the [Bournemouth Echo](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16952450.the-explosion-of-nail-bars-and-the-beauty-industry-as-big-name-stores-close/) and a national report in [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2016/nov/18/beauty-boom-or-bust-uk-too-many-salons)
Henry
<macroeconomics><labor-economics><wages><productivity><services>
How can the number of hairdressers in the UK be up 50% since 2010?
Candamir
# How can the number of hairdressers in the UK be up 50% since 2010?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-30)

In [this recent article](https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/09/06/britains-unemployment-is-ultra-low-but-its-wages-are-ultra-measly), The Economist argues that one of the reasons behind the anaemic recent wage growth in Britain is that the recent job growth has been concentrated in lower-productivity jobs and cites the fact that **the number of hairdressers in the UK is up 50% since 2010.** How can that be?

The population is probably up c. 5% since 2010, which means that population growth can't explain this increase. It also seems far-fetched that people would consume 40-50% more haircuts per person per year. (As an example, that would mean that instead of getting a haircut once every 4 weeks or 13 times per year, you now get a haircut once every 2.7 weeks or 19.5 times per year.) What am I missing?

I ask this question because I do think that the growth of low-productivity jobs plays an important role behind stagnating real wages in the UK. (A continental European politician once commented on the British economy pivoting more and more towards services by saying, "you can't *all* make a living by opening doors for each other.")

**Tags:** macroeconomics, labor-economics, wages, productivity, services

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [This source](https://www.statista.com/statistics/409073/number-of-hairdressers-beauty-salons-united-kingdom-uk/) re "hairdressing and other beauty treatments" shows a sudden leap in number between 2015 and 2016 suggesting a change in definition or classification. Note: you may find you can only view it once without paying.  
> **username_0**: Thanks. You're probably right. I have sent a letter to the editor at The Economist and will post an update here if I hear back from them.  
> **username_2**: There has indeed been a large increase, especially of *nail bars* in high-street shops which previously sold other things. See for example a local report in the [Bournemouth Echo](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16952450.the-explosion-of-nail-bars-and-the-beauty-industry-as-big-name-stores-close/) and a national report in [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2016/nov/18/beauty-boom-or-bust-uk-too-many-salons)  

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## 0 answers

