Data from the fitness ecosystem leader's 2026 Global Summit highlights a critical shift in operator demand away from baseline credentials and toward business-ready, pre-vetted coaching talent.
PHOENIX, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), the world's most connected fitness and wellness ecosystem, today announced the publication of The 2026 Fitness Hiring Report: Closing the Readiness Gap: A New Era for Fitness Careers. Drawing on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ISSA's nationwide gym partner survey, and insights from the inaugural ISSA Global Summit, the report reveals that the primary challenge facing gym operators is a structural talent readiness gap rather than a simple labor shortage.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$``bcd`_^x?E6C?2E:@?2=\$A@CED\$4:6?46D\pDD@4:2E:@?\x$$p\{@8@];A8n:5l~pafch`faQ E:E=6lQx?E6C?2E:@?2= $A@CED $4:6?46D pDD@4:2E:@? Wx$$pXQ 2=ElQx?E6C?2E:@?2= $A@CED $4:6?46D pDD@4:2E:@? Wx$$pXQ ^mk^Amk^5:Gm
k5:G :5lQ5:G#6=62D6w:89=:89E5gcbQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56C\E@Ai `AI D@=:5j 3@C56C\3@EE@>i `AI D@=:5j 3@C56C\4@=@Ci vC2Jj 4@=@Ci 8C2Jj H:5E9i a__AIj 7=@2Ei =67Ej A@D:E:@?i C6=2E:G6j >2C8:?i dAI `_AI dAI `_AIj E6IE\2=:8?i ;FDE:7JjQ 4@?E6?E65:E23=6lQ72=D6Qmx$$pVD a_ae C6A@CE C6G62=D 2 7:E?6DD QC625:?6DD 82AQ] vJ>D ?665 3FD:?6DD\C625J E2=6?E[ ?@E ;FDE 32D:4 4C656?E:2=D]k^5:Gm
kAm(9:=6 &]$] 7:E?6DD EC2:?6C 6>A=@J>6?E :D AC@;64E65 E@ 6IA2?5 3J `aT 7C@> a_ac E@ a_bc[ 2G6C28:?8 C@F89=J fc[a__ 5@>6DE:4 @A6?:?8D 2??F2==J[ 8J> @A6C2E@CD 24C@DD 2== :?5FDECJ D68>6?ED C6A@CE D:8?:7:42?E 5:77:4F=EJ D64FC:?8 42?5:52E6D 6BF:AA65 E@ 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ 3FD:?6DD @A6C2E:@?D 7C@> 52J @?6] %96 4@>AC696?D:G6 C6A@CE 6DE23=:D96D E92E E649?:42= 7:E?6DD <?@H=6586 :D ?@ =@?86C E96 D@=6 36?49>2C< 7@C 4@>>6C4:2= DF446DDj C2E96C[ E96 >@56C? :?5FDECJ 56>2?5D AC@76DD:@?2=D H9@ 3=6?5 E649?:42= 4@>A6E6?4J H:E9 4=:6?E\724:?8 3FD:?6DD 24F>6?[ 3692G:@C2= :?E6==:86?46[ 2?5 C6E6?E:@? DEC2E68:6D]k^Am
kAmQ%96 7:E?6DD :?5FDECJ 92D C624965 2? :?7=64E:@? A@:?E H96C6 8C@HE9 :D 2 4@?DE2?E[ 3FE :>>65:2E6 @A6C2E:@?2= C625:?6DD C6>2:?D 2 4@?DEC2:?E[Q 6IA=2:?65 (2CC6? w6776=7:?86C[ rt~ @7 x$$p] QvJ> @A6C2E@CD 5@ ?@E ;FDE ?665 2AA=:42?EDj E96J ?665 ECFDE65[ H@C<\C625J AC@76DD:@?2=D H9@ F?56CDE2?5 9@H E@ 5C:G6 4=:6?E C6E6?E:@?[ EC2?D=2E6 962=E9 52E2 :?E@ 3692G:@C 492?86 2?5 3F:=5 DFDE2:?23=6 C6G6?F6 A:A6=:?6D 7C@> E96:C 7:CDE 52J @? E96 8J> 7=@@C]Qk^Am
kAmz6J 7:?5:?8D 7C@> k6>m%96 a_ae u:E?6DD w:C:?8 #6A@CEk^6>m :?4=F56ik^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mkDEC@?8m%96 ~A6C2E@C #625:?6DD r@?DEC2:?Eik^DEC@?8m vJ>D 7246 AC@EC24E65 9:C:?8 E:>6=:?6D E92E 7C6BF6?E=J 6I4665 EH@ E@ 7@FC H66<D[ C6DF=E:?8 :? :>>65:2E6 =@DE C6G6?F6 2?5 :?4C62D65 DEC6DD @? 6I:DE:?8 4=F3 DE277]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%96 r2== 7@C !C6\'6EE65 %2=6?Eik^DEC@?8m p? @G6CH96=>:?8 hcT @7 DFCG6J65 x$$p 8J> A2CE?6CD DE2E65 E96J H@F=5 24E:G6=J FE:=:K6 2 A=2E7@C> E92E 56=:G6CD AC6\G6EE65[ ;@3\C625J EC2:?6CD H:E9 G6C:7:65 4C656?E:2=D E@ DEC62>=:?6 E96:C D4C66?:?8 A:A6=:?6D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m$F3DE2?E:2= (@C<7@C46 s67:4:EDik^DEC@?8m |2;@C 3C2?5D 4@?E:?F6 E@ C6A@CE 288C6DD:G6 9:C:?8 E2C86ED] u@C 6I2>A=6[ $?2A u:E?6DD :D D66<:?8 E@ 255 c[___ EC2:?6CD 8=@32==J[ p?JE:>6 u:E?6DD :56?E:7:6D 2 567:4:E @7 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `[b__ 4@2496D 24C@DD :ED a[b__ 5@>6DE:4 =@42E:@?D 2?5 :?E6C?2E:@?2= A2CE?6CD =:<6 {66y2> :? $2F5: pC23:2 92G6 2? :>>65:2E6 C6BF:C6>6?E 7@C c__ A6CD@?2= EC2:?6CD]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%96 q692G:@C2= 2?5 qFD:?6DD $<:== p5G2?E286ik^DEC@?8m x?5FDECJ @A6C2E@CD 6>A92D:K6 E92E E96 ?6IE 4@>A6E:E:G6 25G2?E286 7@C 7:E?6DD AC@76DD:@?2=D =:6D 36J@?5 32D:4 46CE:7:42E:@?] %@A\A6C7@C>:?8 4=F3D =@@< 7@C 4@>A6E6?4J :? 4=:6?E 24BF:D:E:@?[ 3FD:?6DD @A6C2E:@?D[ 2?5 DA64:2=:K65 EC2:?:?8 7@C C2A:5=J 6IA2?5:?8 56>@8C2A9:4D[ DF49 2D E96 24E:G6 28:?8 d_Z A@AF=2E:@?]k^=:mk^F=m
kAm%@ 255C6DD E96D6 >2C<6E 5J?2>:4D[ x$$p 4@?E:?F6D E@ D42=6 r2C66C r@??64E[ :ED AC@AC:6E2CJ H@C<7@C46 A=2E7@C> =:?<:?8 2 ?6EH@C< @7 @G6C ch[___ x$$p\46CE:7:65 4@2496D 5:C64E=J H:E9 >@C6 E92? ab[___ 9:C:?8 7:E?6DD 724:=:E:6D 8=@32==J] uFCE96C 3C:58:?8 E96 82A 36EH66? 32D6=:?6 46CE:7:42E:@? 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= 6I64FE:@?[ x$$p =2F?4965 :ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfahfhf\`U2>Aj9l`b_cdbb_ebU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]:DD2@?=:?6]4@>TauAC@5F4EDTau7:E?6DD\3FD:?6DD\3F?5=6Tbu0A@DTbs`Tae0ADBTbs7:E?6DDTaq3FD:?6DDTae0DDTbs6Tae0GTbs`]_U2>Aj2lu:E?6DDZqFD:?6DDZqF?5=6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmu:E?6DD qFD:?6DD qF?5=6k^2m :? =2E6 yF?6 a_ae[ 6BF:AA:?8 AC@76DD:@?2=D H:E9 E96 6IA=:4:E D2=6D 2?5 C6E6?E:@? 4@>A6E6?4:6D >@DE C6BF6DE65 3J 4@>>6C4:2= 8J> A2CE?6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A=6E6 k6>ma_ae u:E?6DD w:C:?8 #6A@CEk^6>m :?4@CA@C2E6D 52E2 4@>A:=65 7C@> x$$pVD |2C49 a_ae vJ> !2CE?6C w:C:?8 $FCG6J[ E96 yF?6 a_ae v=@32= $F>>:E pEE6?566 $FCG6J 2?5 5:C64E EC2?D4C:AED 7C@> dg 6IA6CE E9@F89E =6256CD9:A D6DD:@?D 56=:G6C65 5FC:?8 E96 G:CEF2= DF>>:E]k^Am
kAm%96 7F== AF3=:42E:@? :D 2G2:=23=6 E@ G:6H 2?5 5@H?=@25i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfahfhf\`U2>Aj9lb``gcbb_heU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]:DD2@?=:?6]4@>TauA286DTau7:E?6DD\9:C:?8\C6A@CEU2>Aj2l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]:DD2@?=:?6]4@>TauA286DTau7:E?6DD\9:C:?8\C6A@CEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]:DD2@?=:?6]4@>^A286D^7:E?6DD\9:C:?8\C6A@CEk^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE x?E6C?2E:@?2= $A@CED $4:6?46D pDD@4:2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx?E6C?2E:@?2= $A@CED $4:6?46D pDD@4:2E:@? Wx$$pX :D E96 H@C=5VD >@DE 4@??64E65 7:E?6DD 2?5 H6==?6DD 64@DJDE6>] $:?46 `hgg[ x$$p 92D 8@?6 36J@?5 EC25:E:@?2= 46CE:7:42E:@? E@ 3F:=5 E96 :?5FDECJVD 42C66C @A6C2E:?8 DJDE6>[ 8:G:?8 AC@76DD:@?2=D E96 D<:==D[ 4@?7:56?46[ 2?5 4@??64E:@?D E@ 3F:=5 >62?:?87F= 7FEFC6D[ H9:=6 AC@G:5:?8 @A6C2E@CD H:E9 E96 ECFDE65[ H@C<\C625J E2=6?E E96J ?665 E@ 8C@H] vF:565 3J E96 ECFE9 E92E H96? AC@76DD:@?2=D DF44665[ @A6C2E@CD DF44665[ x$$p EFC?D A2DD:@? :?E@ @AA@CEF?:EJ] xED AC6>:6C H@C<7@C46 A=2E7@C>[ r2C66C r@??64E[ 3C:586D 2 8=@32= 4@>>F?:EJ @7 @G6C @?6 >:==:@? DEF56?ED 24C@DD `fe 4@F?EC:6D H:E9 >@C6 E92? ab[___ 8=@32= A2CE?6C =@42E:@?D] x$$p 2:>D E@ 4@??64E `__ >:==:@? A6@A=6 E@ 962=E9J =:G:?8 3J a_b_]k^Am
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?l{p_ae`aU2>AjD5la_ae\_f\`cQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^:DD2\C6=62D6D\a_ae\7:E?6DD\9:C:?8\C6A@CE\C6G62=:?8\DECF4EFC2=\C625:?6DD\82A\2D\E96\8C62E6DE\492==6?86\E@\8=@32=\7:E?6DD\:?5FDECJ\8C@HE9\b_agabc`a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^:DD2\C6=62D6D\a_ae\7:E?6DD\9:C:?8\C6A@CE\C6G62=:?8\DECF4EFC2=\C625:?6DD\82A\2D\E96\8C62E6DE\492==6?86\E@\8=@32=\7:E?6DD\:?5FDECJ\8C@HE9\b_agabc`a]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt x?E6C?2E:@?2= $A@CED $4:6?46D pDD@4:2E:@? Wx$$pXk^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5l{p_ae`aU2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae_f`c_hac!#0}t($0&$!#00000{p_ae`aU2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae_f`cQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am
