The rise of hipster culture is driving a surge in new types of job opportunities as the phenomenon becomes part of mainstream economic activity.
Hipsters’ insatiable appetite for coffee, yoga and tattoos has seen demand for some jobs more than double over the past four years.
Recruitment specialists report a sharp rise in demand for cafe baristas, bartenders, yoga teachers and tattoo artists as the hipster community moves from the ‘alternative’ sidelines to become a mainstream presence in British society.
A recent study by University College London revealed that far fewer millennials are drinking alcohol than previous generations, which has benefited independent artisan cafés and multinational chains.
One recruiter, Indeed, says the number of barista jobs available on its site have risen fourfold in four years. Job opportunities for bartenders have grown, fuelled by the microbrewery and artisan distillery boom.
While not solely the preserve of hipsters, tattoos have soared in popularity in recent years. In the decade to 2014, the number of parlours across the UK has almost tripled.
Indeed says jobseeker interest in these jobs has more than doubled in the last four years, increasing from 205 searches per million in January 2015 to 469 searches per million in December 2018.
These roles can bring financial reward, as well as job satisfaction. Tattoo artists on average can expect to make £44.10 per hour, with yoga teachers typically earning £21.98 per hour – well above the national average of £15.37 per hour. Baristas (£8.10 per hour) and bartenders (£8.53 per hour) still lag behind in the pay stakes.
Bill Richards, UK managing director of Indeed, comments: “The irrepressible rise of the hipster is changing Britain’s economy is some unexpected ways. As the number and combined spending of hipsters rise, so too do the fortunes of the ‘hipster service economy’ catering to their needs.
“A decade ago, few would have predicted that demand for baristas would outstrip that for bartenders, as coffee has moved into the mainstream and millennial attitudes towards alcohol have changed.
“More informal dress and flexible remote work from coffee shops – once the exclusive domain of hipster tastemakers – have become increasingly common in a range of industries, and it’s striking that this has also sparked a wider jobs boom.
“Both jobseekers and employers have responded in kind, with both the supply of these jobs – and candidates’ interest in them – surging in response. Intense competition between employers is in turn forcing them to fight hard for recruits, by offering more attractive pay packets and other hipster-friendly perks.”
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