Pilates Industry Research

Survey Results

As part of our mission to advance knowledge and understanding of the Pilates industry in Australia the PAA conducted three major industry surveys during the first half of 2017. The surveys went Australia-wide to PAA members and non-members, and over 700 people responded.

Results are in, and they’re interesting!

Here is a summary of the results of each survey:

 

Wages and industry conditions survey results

The “average” Pilates instructor is a female, 42 years old, has a Diploma level Pilates qualification and has been teaching roughly 5 years. She considers Pilates to be her main profession and teaching is her primary source of income.

Working roughly 20 hours each week teaching mainly small group Pilates, at a single studio, she does a few admin and light cleaning duties as part of her job. Her usual shift is 4-6 hours and she earns around $40/hour, for a total annual wage of $42,000 from Pilates.

She is a contractor, although she doesn’t have a written contract for her position. She feels fairly clear on her legal employment status but in reality her understanding of her rights and obligations is not accurate.

 

Member benefits survey results

Around 30% of respondents were not PAA members; these people don’t see tangible benefits to membership and feel the cost is too high. 70% of respondents are PAA members; their reasons for being a member centred around professional recognition and status.

Members felt the PAA’s priorities should be (in order):

1. Increasing recognition, status and credibility of the profession
2. Setting Pilates certification standards
3. Lobbying health funds to improve recognition of Pilates services
4. Providing continuing education opportunities

Members ranked the following reasons in order of importance to their membership:

1. Professional recognition
2. Health fund recognition
3. Cost of continuing education
4. Cost of annual membership
5. Time required for continuing education
6. Member discounts and special offers

 

Professional development survey results

Members rated these factors from most important to least important in their choice of professional development:

1. Workshop content
2. The presenter
3. Total cost
4. Timing of the workshop
5. Location close to me
6. Face to face delivery
7. Length of workshop
8. Cost per PDP point
9. Online delivery

The overwhelming majority of members preferred either half-day (43%) or full day (42%) workshops

Members ranked workshop content in order of value to them from most to least:

1. Medical conditions and special populations
2. Rehabilitation
3. Pilates teaching skills
4. Anatomy and biomechanics
5. Pilates repertoire
6. Business skills
7. Pilates history and philosophy

Members ranked these factors from most important to least important in their choice of professional development:

1. To develop my Pilates knowledge
2. To keep myself fresh and inspired
3. To improve my teaching skills
4. To develop my skills in dealing with special populations
5. To gain points for other organisations e.g. ESSA, APA, Fitness Australia
6. To improve my personal Pilates practice
7. I need the points to maintain my membership
8. To improve my non-Pilates skills e.g. business, anatomy

Almost half of members are also members of another professional organisation that requires annual professional development points (PDP) with the most common organisations being:

1. Fitness Australia
2. Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA)
3. Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)

 

Detailed results for each of the surveys can be viewed after logging in to your membership. From the menu at top left choose Resources and then look in the Document Library.