The funeral industry is facing a labor shortage, young women are filling the gap

It was heartbreaking and I asked myself, “How can I make this better?”

I was at my local library back home and I loved the Ancient Egypt section that talked about embalmers. One book said: “Modern embalmers are sometimes referred to as undertakers or undertakers.”

When I read that sentence, I knew exactly what I was going to do. I have dedicated my entire life to getting my funeral director’s license.

I am now a proud first generation funeral director and embalmer.

The funeral industry was dominated by men, but young women are flooding its ranks

We will see a huge demand for funeral directors in the next 10 years as many of them retire. It will open up several thousand jobs for young funeral directors to step in and make an impact.

When I first entered the profession, it was definitely male dominated, but the industry is changing. About 75% of students enrolled in mortuary programs in 2022 were women. I like that women take up a lot more space.

Families expect someone older, usually a man, so when they see someone who might be their daughter’s age, they relax.

We have also seen how younger generations have brought more life through technology.

We have a tremendous opportunity to educate families about new ideas, such as greener options and disposal methods, that will become more popular in the future. We have the opportunity to shape how we conduct funeral service in the future.

I am excited for the next generation because, in my opinion, there has never been a better time to be at a funeral service.

I attended mortuary school in Indiana

I graduated from a school in southern Indiana called Mid-America College of Funeral Service in 2015.

They had very small classes which was great because I got to know all my classmates or if I needed one on one time with my teachers then I could.

It’s an investment in your education. You’re talking two to four years of college in addition to an apprenticeship or internship, depending on your state. It’s a few years of developing skills and, above all, mindset.

To me, the mindset of a funeral director is to lead the family to their new normal. Their lives will never be the same after their time with you.

We bring home the fact that funerals are not just a day in a life. I am a lifetime in one day. We only have one chance to correct this.

This is the ultimate challenge for funeral directors.

There is something for everyone in the funeral industry

For someone thinking about going into funeral services, I would say it ticks all the boxes.

If you want meaning, not only in your personal life but also in your professional life, this is the place for you. If you want a community that will embrace and encourage you, join funeral services. If you want to help families and help those around you, come to funeral services.

If you’re artistic, you could be an amazing restoration artist or a funeral director who plans beautiful funerals. If you are more of a science person then invest in your embalming skills.

I love what I do. This is a lifestyle.