Could tattoos prevent you from getting employed?

A photo of artist making tattoo on male customer's hand. Tattoo expert is working in studio. Cropped image of man getting his hand tattooed.
By Hannah Edensor


Sure, this isn’t strictly a travel industry story, but it is about tattoos, and from what we’ve seen in our industry tattoo feature, the travel industry doesn’t mind getting a bit of ink.

Hell, a major travel exec got a ‘travel agents rock’ tattoo at a recent conference!

However, a new study by YouGov has found that 48 per cent of Aussies view tattoos negatively compared with 43 per cent who have a more positive view of them.

Age is a significant factor in shaping attitudes; while respondents under 35s are more likely to have either a very positive or fairly positive view, those 35 and older are more likely to view tattoos as either very or fairly negative.

But its the over 35s who are most likely to sport some ink. In fact, tattoos are most prevalent among those aged between 35 and 44 in Australia, nearly a third of whom (30 per cent) have at least one tattoo.

In total just over a fifth of the population (22 per cent) have been tattooed. Body art is slightly more popular among women; a quarter (25 per cent) of women have them compared to 19 per cent of men.

13 per cent of people have considered getting their tattoos removed

Some worry that their tattoos aren’t always seen as an asset in the workplace, particularly women, who are nearly four times more likely to believe having a tattoo has damaged their career prospects. We saw this recently when we wrote about an agency manager who chose not to hire a woman specifically because of their ink.

Across the overall population, eight per cent of those polled believe having a tattoo has damaged their career prospects, but this rises to 11 per cent among women. It is only three per cent among men.

There is a similar divide between urban and rural dwellers; those in urban areas are far more likely (11 per cent) to believe that having a tattoo damages career prospects than those in regional areas (four per cent).

Yet Aussies don’t seem to regret their choices. Despite the boon of tattoo removal specialists, just 13 per cent of respondents have considered getting their tattoo(s) removed. All in all, nearly three-quarters of those with tattoos (74 per cent) are pleased to have them.

tattoos

Arms are the most popular place to have tattooed

Across all demographics, the most popular spots to have tattooed are the arm(s) (54 per cent), back (32 per cent) and shoulder (30 per cent).

But tastes differ between genders over the most popular body parts to get inked. Twice as many women (41 per cent) have tattoos on their back compared with men (20 per cent), whereas men are far more likely to opt for tattoos on their arm.

Some 70 per cent of men with tattoos have at least one on their arm(s); significantly more than the 41 per cent of women who do.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments

    2. any visible tats mean you won’t get past interview with us, if in front line position. That said, we have 19 consultants who work from home, who rarely get face to face with clients. If they do, we tell them to cover up any tats thoroughly before they get face to face.

    3. Offshore tattoo removals a future lucrative sideshoot for medical tourism? As the skin starts to sag due to the double scourges of age and sunshine, the ink fades and muscle loses its tone, previously supple young bodies will start to resemble an old paisley curtain. Another survey of the ‘regrets’ would be interesting in twenty years time.

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