20-Year Prospect
Roses are red, violets are blue, and this career field is going down the tubes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of florists will likely decline by eight percent between now and 2022.
This projection may leave you scratching your head (or is that your allergy to goldenrod?), because people in the United States buy flowers for all sorts of occasions. For example, Americans spent nearly two billion dollars on flowers for Valentine's Day in 2013. And then there are weddings: the average bride blows about $1,500 on flowers for her big day.
So, if people are buying so many flowers, why don't florists have a future?
The truth is that many flower-lovers are purchasing their blooms from everywhere but the florist's shop—we're talking grocery stores and e-commerce retailers like 1-800-Flowers. And, while 1-800-Flowers farms out orders to local florists, the fees florists pay to just receive those orders can be too bloomin' much.
Also, given how much a simple floral arrangement can cost, penny-pinching brides are turning to Pinterest to find other, cheaper ideas for table decorations. You'd be amazed what a creative bride can do with a couple of seashells, a pile of sand, and a candle.
So, if you really adore flowers, go for it...but maybe also consider working a different job and cultivating flowers as a hobby.