Tattoos, Millennials, and employment

If you need to tell a relative to get off your back about your tattoos at the next family function, you may have back-up in a Washington-based Pew Research Center report that suggests everyone is getting inked. 

The report suggests 38 per cent of 18 to 29 year olds had at least one tattoo and 23 per cent of people had piercings in places other than their earlobes. This research also suggests that more people are getting tattooed in this generation than the previous one. The Pew research suggests about three quarters of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 do not display their tattoos but a poll done by survey.com suggested that a similar number of their respondents said they felt tattoos and piercings could hurt an applicant’s chances of being hired for a job. This research suggests even with this increase in body modification, people may still be worrying about showing their tattoos. Are your tattoos or piercing affecting your career opportunities or is it a worry to leave in the last decade?

James Godman, Logistics Team Lead at Bayshore Specialty Pharmacy in Windsor, said tattoo restrictions in the pharmaceutical industry have become less stringent since the 1970s when tattoos first became popular. 

“Whether it be a couple of tattoos on the arm or a sleeve, we have a couple people who work for us that have tattoos. We are able to flash it,” said Godman, who was born in the 1980s.

Godman also said that with social media, branding yourself in today’s society is important.

“You are able to brand yourself through tattoos but If you are a man in business or working a job that requires you to be professional looking you would still be required to cover them up I’d believe,” said Godman.

He also suggests getting tattooed can actually be beneficial to a career, depending on the field. 

A tattoo artist at Advanced Tattoo and Piercing said most of her clientele are people who work as police officers, lawyers, in health care and other jobs that require a high degree of professionalism in their appearance.

 “People who are able to get large pieces are often the people who have money and work for it,” said Vanessa Ruth, who at 26 is also considered a Millennial. Ruth has various tattoos that mostly cover her arms.

Ruth said she thinks the restrictions on employing people with tattoos or piercings since they first became popular have disappeared, but the option to cover them up is always there.

“Confident humans are the people who want to be tattooed. In many professions you have the option to cover them up, you don’t have to show them off, ” said Ruth.  

The research from Pew Research Center in 2010 suggests men are more likely to leave tattoos visible than women. About one-in-10 tattooed women said they allow their tattoos to be visible depending on what they are wearing. 

Whether wearing your favourite outfit or your work uniform, research suggests more Millennial’s are getting tattooed and some people working in high profile jobs say they are even allowed to flash it.