Funeral Industry Outlook

Funeral professionals wear many hats: counselor, event planner, and more. As a trusted expert for clients, it’s important to stay ahead of the latest industry trends. 

If you’re interested in a rewarding career in the funeral industry, use this industry outlook as your guide.

Job Growth Within the Funeral Planning Industry

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, only 21 percent of Americans have spoken to loved ones about their funeral wishes. Because families often rely on funeral professionals to guide them through the planning process, the funeral industry is among the most stable long-term employment sectors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects funeral service employment to grow 4% annually through 2030. This growth offers increased job security and opportunities for funeral professionals.

Getting Started in the Funeral Services Industry

Many funeral homes are small, family-owned businesses passed down to successive generations. However, anyone looking to enter the industry can do so by first meeting the licensing requirements for their state.

Although requirements can vary by state, here are the most common steps to follow:

1. Complete an accredited mortuary program and associate’s degree or equivalent.

2. Complete an apprenticeship.

3. Obtain your funeral license.

4. Maintain your funeral license

You can find more detail on each of these steps in the WebCE blog How to Become a Funeral Director.

Qualities of a Funeral Services Professional

Helping individuals and loved ones prepare end-of-life arrangements requires specific qualities and skills.

Reputable funeral professionals gain the trust of potential clients by displaying the following attributes:

• Compassion and Respect: These traits help funeral services professionals provide informed guidance to loved ones. Not everyone responds to grief the same way. Addressing a client’s wishes with compassion simplifies the planning process and provides comfort for those involved.

• Organization and Reliability: Funeral professionals can alleviate the burden of coordinating life celebrations by being organized, reliable, and responsive at all times through the planning process.

• Communication: Understanding a client’s wishes begins with open communication. More and more individuals are customizing their funeral services with unique elements. Productive conversations will help you gain a clear understanding of what clients expect.

• Creativity: Creativity may not seem like a likely characteristic at first, but meeting clients’ expectations while following regulations and laws often requires creative problem-solving.

Funeral Industry Trends to Help You Stay Competitive

Successful funeral businesses go beyond meeting requirements and displaying the attributes listed above. In order to stay ahead of the competition, funeral businesses must maintain a positive reputation in the community and provide excellent service.

Staying current on the latest funeral innovations improves a business’ ability to meet these goals.

Some unique trends increasing in popularity include:

• Cremation

• Green funerals

• At-home funerals

• Themed funerals

• Technology in funeral services

• Advanced planning

• Crowdfunding for funeral costs

Some ways to increase industry engagement include becoming a member of your local associations, subscribing to industry magazines and the WebCE Funeral Blog, and continuing your education with relevant course topics.

WebCE is your trusted source for expert funeral courses covering the latest innovations, trends, and regulations. WebCE offers a comprehensive catalog of state-specific funeral CE courses for funeral directors, cremationists, embalmers, and direct disposers.

To order Funeral CE courses, visit our Funeral CE Course Catalog.