Sports Industry Job Stats for 2023

The sports industry is enormous, with an estimated global value between $500 billion and $600 billion. It serves as a signi­ficant economic power­house, providing emplo­yment opport­unities for millions of indiv­iduals world­wide.

In the United States alone, over 456,000 people derive their livel­ihood from this sector, and expert proje­ctions forecast a 7 percent job growth over the next decade.

The global sports industry offers immense job opport­unities beyond just the athletes themselves, each with wide-reaching benefits. The suppo­rting ecosystem is vast and diverse, making it an attra­ctive field to pursue a career in. If you’re consi­dering a role in sports, understanding the following figures can provide valuable insights:

*Women are making signi­ficant progress in the sports industry, partic­ularly in college sports adminis­tration, where they now hold 34 percent of posit­ions. This reflects positive strides toward achieving gender equality in the field.

*The sports marketing segment is projected to reach a value of $74.7 billion by the end of 2023, highli­ghting the vast opportunities within this industry.

*Sports sponsorships have rapidly emerged as a dominant force in the marketing arena, with the industry now valued at over $60 billion and witnessing a steady annual growth of 4 percent. Parallel to this global trend, Malaysia, where over 40 percent of the population is reported to be active sports enthusiasts, has seen a significant surge in opportunities for Malaysians to wager on sports, reflecting the nation’s passion for sports and the integration of interactive entertainment and betting.

*Educa­tional qualifi­cations play a crucial role in the sports industry. A signi­ficant 69 percent of indiv­iduals in this field hold a bache­lor’s degree, highli­ghting the value of higher educa­tion. Furthe­rmore, an impre­ssive 20 percent proudly possess a master’s degree, showc­asing their dedic­ation to achieving advanced knowledge and exper­tise. Sports science is particularly thriving in the United Kingdom, where the number of people studying it more than doubled from 2003 to 2012.

*The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL are not only massive entert­ainment entities but also major employers that provide thousands of job opportu­nities.

*In the United States, there are approx­imately 98,810 physical education (PE) teachers who hold positions in schools. These dedicated profes­sionals earn an average annual salary of $63,660.

The data goes beyond that. From 2010 to 2014, states like Calif­ornia, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsy­lvania saw a signi­ficant job growth of around 40 percent. Moreover, the global spons­orship market is thriving at over $60 billion per year and is projected to continue growing.

These numbers indicate a promising industry with ample opport­unities for both newcomers and exper­ienced profess­ionals.

The number of jobs in the category of athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers has surpri­singly increased by 3 percent from 2022. This growth can be attributed to the rise of numerous local sports leagues in regions like Asia and Africa.

In terms of wages, the median annual income stands at $50,000 for individuals in this field, although it can vary significantly depending on the specific sport and league level.

Sports marketing and promo­tions managers

There has been a rise in job opportunities due to the growing number of sports startups and merch­andise companies. This segment has experienced a 6 percent growth. The median annual wages for this profe­ssion are around $72,000, refle­cting the lucrative nature of sports marketing in today’s industry.

Sports agents and business managers

There has been a slight decrease of 1 percent in the number of jobs compared to the previous year. This may be attributed to an incre­asing trend among athletes to self-manage their caree­rs. The median annual wage for sports agents and business managers remains strong at $68,000, with top-tier agents earning even higher salaries.

Fitness and wellness coordinators­/trainers

This category has seen an 8 percent growth due to the increased focus on health worldwide in recent years. The median annual wage for fitness and wellness coordinato­rs/trainers is approximately $40,000, but personal trainers working with celeb­rities often earn higher incomes.

Technology plays a pivotal role. Digital advanc­ements, specif­ically virtual reality and augmented reality, have improved training methods and also intro­duced new job roles such as VR sports trainers and esports managers.

The global economic recovery has had a positive effect on sponso­rships, creating more job opport­unities in sports event manag­ement and promo­tions.

There has been a trend toward priori­tizing physical health and wellness. As a result, the demand for profes­sionals such as wellness coaches and thera­pists has signif­icantly incre­ased.

North America continues to dominate the sports industry, with professional leagues like the NBA, NHL, and NFL creating a signi­ficant number of jobs. However, there have been emerging regions like southeast Asia and more specifically, Malaysia, which has seen rapid growth recently.

Europe’s rich football culture also makes it a thriving hub for sports emplo­yment. Asia has experienced remar­kable growth in recent years, with the rise of local leagues and the popul­arity of sports such as badminton and table tennis leading to numerous job opportu­nities.

However, regions like Latin America, despite their passi­onate sports culture, face chall­enges primarily due to economic constr­aints.