Are Bartenders In Demand? (Ultimate Guide)

With around 485,000 bartenders in the United States alone, this profession is one that’s gaining traction throughout the globe and becoming a career path that more and more people are choosing to go down.

Bartending is becoming more recognized as an expansive career that has the potential to take individuals very far if they become good at it.

The earnings potential can be huge at the top, and bartenders can have fun while on the way there.

Whilst long hours and unsociable shifts may not be for everyone, bartending offers a lifestyle that you simply don’t get at an office job.

In this post, we’re going to answer the question “are bartenders in demand?” As well as what the future looks like for those looking to get into this exciting profession.

Let’s get into it…

Are Bartenders Really In Demand?

YES, bartenders are in demand. In fact, according to bls.gov, employment of bartenders is set to increase by a whopping 18% from the years 2021 – 2031. This is much faster than the average growth rate of 5% for all other occupations.

There are bars popping up all over the world that have unique and captivating atmospheres.

People love to enjoy themselves and socialize with friends after a busy week of work and catching up over a few beers at the bar is a perfect way to do so.

Every year more people get into the bartending industry for a variety of reasons. Some enjoy bartending for its flexible working, allowing them to study and earn extra cash while doing so.

Whereas others bartend out of a passion for providing service to others and creating an awesome experience beyond simply making drinks and greeting customers.

Bartending is much more than that, it’s the chance to network and meet new people every single day.

It’s the opportunity to develop as a person and become an excellent communicator, whilst earning money and having fun.

It comes as no surprise to me that bartending is BOOMING. It offers a flexible lifestyle that’s becoming increasingly important to people and allows them to make GREAT money while doing so.

Why Are Bartenders In Demand?

The bartending industry is growing at a rapid pace and the demand for bartenders is only increasing alongside it.

Every year since 2004 more people have turned to bartending as a career for a variety of reasons.

Let’s take a look at why the bartending industry is surging and why bartenders are in high demand:

More Bars

In the United States, the number of bars and nightclubs has grown by 2.1% per year on average over the five years between 2017 – 2022 according to IBISWorld.com, and that’s just one industry.

When you factor in all of the other establishments that require bartenders such as golf clubs, restaurants, and casinos to serve alcohol, you can see why they are in high demand.

As more industries grow and flourish, more establishments open across the globe, and thus the demand for bartenders increases as there are more vacancies to fill.

Staff Turnover

Lots of people take on the role of becoming a bartender for short periods of time, such as when studying through school or to make ends meet whilst they look for a more permanent job.

Whatever the reason, staff turnover in bartending can be incredibly high with people joining, working for a couple of months, and then leaving.

This means lots of bars are always on the lookout for high-quality staff, especially those who are looking for a permanent role and plan to stay a while.

Lifestyle

If there’s one reason why the bartending industry is booming and bartenders are in demand, it’s because of the lifestyle that it provides.

Hours are often flexible and many bars offer as many or as few hours as you like. Daytimes are often free for your leisure as bars don’t usually pick up until around 6pm or so.

While bartending is certainly hard work and requires a certain mindset, it’s a great lifestyle, especially for those that are young and enjoy the nightlife.

The lifestyle of bartending is becoming increasingly appealing to those looking for a change. Moreso than ever people are looking for a fun, enjoyable job that isn’t mundane and keeps staff engaged.

Bartending certainly delivers on that front and I would argue that if it’s a fun, exciting lifestyle that you want then bartending is definitely up there with the most enjoyable jobs available.

Skill

On the surface, bartending may look like just serving drinks and being polite to customers, but it’s actually much, much more than that.

There’s a true art to it with many different types of bartending such as mixology and flair bartending.

Master one area of bartending and you’ll be a sought-after individual that can earn incredible money and work in some of the best bars in the world.

If you’re a skilled bartender who can also work hard and be a team player, you’ll find it easy to find work and make LOTS of tips too.

Fulfillment

Finding fulfillment at work is important, especially for millennials who no longer want to work in a factory or an office 9 to 5 job.

They want to work somewhere that gives them meaning and purpose, and whilst bartending may not seem like the type of role that offers this, it certainly can.

Bartending is more than making drinks, it’s about creating an awesome atmosphere in the room, ensuring people enjoy their nights and remember their time in the bar.

It can be very rewarding and provide a sense of achievement, fulfillment, and meaning whereas other careers may lack this.

Ease of Entry

One of the best things about bartending is that it requires very little education or initial experience to get into the industry.

Bar managers look for people who are team players, can work hard, and are good at holding conversations, they are not looking for qualifications as much as some other careers do.

Bartenders are usually given on-the-job training on how to serve drinks, make cocktails, and be shown basic cleaning duties, but the rest is up to you.

Qualifications are not important in bartending which is why so many people look to get into the role and bartending is in high demand.

Job Outlook For Bartending

The future job outlook for bartending is looking great, it’s growing year after year and there are always people looking to get into the industry for a variety of reasons.

There will always be people going out to eat at restaurants, drink at bars, and seek adventure in new cities which helps to keep bartenders in work.

While restaurant take-out service will have some impact on the number of bartending vacancies, the turnover rate, and new bar and restaurant openings will offset this.

Bartending has a low barrier to entry, which means anybody can apply and have a crack at it. You don’t need fancy degrees or a good reference, you just need a can-do attitude and the ability to knuckle down to make it in this game.

For that reason, there will always be people looking to get into bartending and that’s why the future is a bright one for the bartending industry as a whole.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now have a clear answer to “are bartenders in demand” and have a better understanding of why this is very much a growing industry that is not going to slow down anytime soon.

Bartenders are in demand, there are bars, restaurants, and a number of alcohol-serving establishments that are on the lookout for bartenders in almost every city in the world.

The more bars and clubs open, the more bartenders are required to work in them, and given that there’s often a high staff turnover in bartending there are always jobs to be had.

If you’re considering bartending as your career path I urge you to give it a shot. If you are a hard-working team player that enjoys conversation and providing service I have no doubt you can be a great bartender.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and learn more about bartending.

Catch you in the next one!