Do body modifications actually affect your job chances?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Catherine Schofield reports on how job expectations regarding tattoos and piercings are changing.

14% of employers said they would be less likely to hire someone for having body modifications. 63% of employers said it would depend on a variety of factors. Statistics via Workopolis, a Canadian website specializing in online job searches.

Times are changing

Have our parents been telling us the truth that tattoos and piercings will prevent you from getting a job? While this may have been true in the past, it’s not always the case anymore. Many employers have become more accepting of visible tattoos and unusual piercings in recent years. And with a new generation of workers sporting more body modifications, the workforce is more inked than ever.

Do you have any tattoos or piercings? Let us know on Twitter and Instagram @reynoldssandbox if it’s affected perceptions of you in the workplace. Check out the above animated video by Catherine Schofield.

A New Generation

The study “Body Art as a Source of Employment Discrimination” showed that employers with tattoos were more likely to hire applicants who also had tattoos. This bodes well for the younger generation since over a quarter of Americans have a tattoo and another 35% say they would consider getting one. Along with this, an estimated 12% of men and 72% of women have piercings.

Explainer Reporting by Catherine Schofield for the Reynolds Sandbox