Price Attack is on an upward trajectory, but hairdressing apprenticeship figures continue to decline, despite projections showing the career has significant growth.

According to the Australian Government Department of Jobs and Small Business, in 2019 over 73,000 people were employed as hairdressers across Australia. This number was forecasted to jump to just under 80,000 by 2024, indicating continued growth in this segment of the sector.

To help lift hairdressing’s profile, Price Attack is supporting Australia’s largest and most successful independent hairdressing awards program, Australia Hair and Fashion Awards (AHFA) by sponsoring the Apprentice of the Year category. The gala awards evening is expected to be held in Sydney on 13 December 2021.

Price Attack CEO, John Pascoe said sponsoring the Apprentice of the Year award allowed Price Attack to show its commitment to upskilling people in the industry.

“We recognise there is a shortage in people undertaking hairdressing apprenticeships and are looking for ways to promote hairdressing as an attractive career,” he said.

“We want people to change their attitude to hairdressing as a career, see the great changes to the sector and how there is so much room for development. It is exciting, vibrant and more creative than ever before.”

Price Attack business development manager for corporate stores and hairdresser of 36 years, Corinne Baker said a hairdressing apprenticeship was a ‘licence to cut’ and a passport to travel the world.

“I worked on cruise ships for eight years. I have travelled to Egypt, South America, Alaska, Europe and the Mediterranean: anywhere a ship could go I have been there. The beauty is people are always happy because they are on holidays, so the working environment is upbeat,” she said.

“You get to meet people from all different backgrounds and nationalities. Also, when everyone is ashore you get to go ashore as well. So, when we were in Egypt, I could go and visit the pyramids all while I was working and being paid.

“Cruise ships have begun operating in other parts of the world, so now is the perfect time to start an apprenticeship so by the time you are trained you could be heading overseas for a job of a lifetime.”

Baker said while the portability of hairdressing allows her to take time off for a family, males should be equally attracted to the industry.

“In the past hairdressing careers were largely promoted to females. But it is very attractive to males as well with both travel and the fact that this is a career on the move: you are virtually guaranteed a job. We are future proofed and cannot be replaced by a machine and unlike some careers, where when you reach a certain age, you are considered too old, this is a career that keeps on giving.”