GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Fitness Industry Statistics

HR challenges persist amidst booming, digitally evolving global fitness industry.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

About 70% of fitness club members are between the ages of 18 and 44

Statistic 2

About 60% of gym members prefer group fitness classes over solo workouts

Statistic 3

78% of gym members own wearable fitness devices to track their workouts

Statistic 4

The main motivator for gym members to join is weight management, cited by 62% of members

Statistic 5

72% of buyers prefer personalized fitness programs

Statistic 6

Approximately 25% of fitness centers offer child-friendly or family gym memberships

Statistic 7

About 55% of fitness consumers prefer to book personal training sessions online

Statistic 8

The average lifetime value of a fitness client is estimated at around $1,500, depending on services used

Statistic 9

The largest segment of gym members are students aged 18-24, making up approximately 35% of memberships

Statistic 10

Only 15% of fitness businesses have implemented AI technology into their operations

Statistic 11

Nearly 40% of fitness facilities have adopted app-based membership management systems

Statistic 12

Nearly 30% of fitness facilities have integrated sustainability initiatives into their operations

Statistic 13

80% of fitness businesses use social media as a primary marketing channel

Statistic 14

Over 90% of fitness clubs plan to increase their investment in digital marketing in the next two years

Statistic 15

Over 50% of fitness facilities use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to manage client data

Statistic 16

About 18% of fitness facilities have implemented virtual reality (VR) training experiences for their clients

Statistic 17

Nearly 60% of fitness industry marketing budgets are allocated to digital advertising channels

Statistic 18

Only around 20% of fitness clubs offer nutrition counseling as part of their services

Statistic 19

The percentage of fitness businesses that have adopted online class offerings increased to over 55% in 2023

Statistic 20

About 40% of fitness facilities have implemented touchless check-in systems to improve safety and hygiene

Statistic 21

The global health and fitness club market size was valued at approximately $96.7 billion in 2022

Statistic 22

The fitness industry's digital services market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17% through 2028

Statistic 23

Approximately 35% of fitness facilities are independently owned, with the rest being franchise-owned

Statistic 24

The number of fitness clubs in North America is over 40,000

Statistic 25

The average annual revenue per fitness franchise location exceeds $650,000

Statistic 26

The global virtual fitness market is expected to reach $59 billion by 2027

Statistic 27

The number of fitness apps downloaded globally exceeded 370 million in 2023

Statistic 28

The average monthly gym membership fee in the U.S. is around $50

Statistic 29

The proportion of private gyms to corporate gyms in the U.S. is approximately 60% private, 40% corporate

Statistic 30

The fitness industry’s digital marketing expenditure is expected to grow by 20% annually through 2026

Statistic 31

The average size of a fitness studio is approximately 2,500 square feet

Statistic 32

The average number of monthly active memberships in large-chain gyms in the US exceeds 3 million

Statistic 33

Approximately 2,000 new fitness facilities open in the U.S. annually, contributing to industry growth

Statistic 34

Over 80% of gym memberships are inactive after the first year

Statistic 35

45% of gym members report that motivation is the biggest challenge in maintaining regular attendance

Statistic 36

The top three reasons for gym membership suspension are illness, travel, and injury

Statistic 37

The retention rate for gym memberships is approximately 35% after one year

Statistic 38

The average retention rate for fitness memberships is around 50%, but varies significantly by region and facility type

Statistic 39

65% of gym members are more likely to renew their membership if they receive personalized communication and offers

Statistic 40

More than 50% of fitness facilities report difficulty in retaining members beyond the first six months

Statistic 41

The average employee turnover rate in the fitness industry is around 30% annually

Statistic 42

The median salary for fitness trainers and instructors in the U.S. was $40,700 per year in 2023

Statistic 43

Women make up approximately 52% of the fitness industry workforce

Statistic 44

The average age of a fitness trainer is around 35 years old

Statistic 45

The fitness industry spends approximately $250 million annually on employee training and development

Statistic 46

About 55% of fitness professionals are certified

Statistic 47

The average tenure of a fitness trainer at a single gym is approximately 2.5 years

Statistic 48

The fitness industry is estimated to create over 1 million jobs worldwide by 2025

Statistic 49

About 67% of fitness industry employees are men

Statistic 50

Approximately 65% of fitness trainers are women

Statistic 51

About 45% of fitness staff are aged between 25 and 35 years

Statistic 52

Fitness instructor certification programs are offered by over 50 different organizations worldwide

Statistic 53

The average cost of becoming a certified personal trainer ranges from $400 to $700

Statistic 54

The number of personal trainers worldwide was estimated to be over 350,000 in 2023

Statistic 55

The most common reason for fitness staff leaving is low wages or lack of career advancement, cited by 45% of respondents

Statistic 56

The majority of fitness industry employees work part-time, with full-time roles making up only about 35%

Statistic 57

The fitness industry’s turnover rate increases during economic downturns, with a peak of 40% during recessions

Statistic 58

Around 15% of fitness professionals work as freelancers or independent contractors

Statistic 59

50% of fitness clubs have implemented employee wellness programs to boost staff productivity and retention

Statistic 60

The gender wage gap in the fitness industry is estimated at approximately 10%, with women earning less on average than men

Statistic 61

In 2023, there was a 12% increase in the number of fitness certifications issued compared to the previous year

Statistic 62

The top three training specialties among fitness professionals are strength training, cardio training, and weight loss coaching

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Key Highlights

The global health and fitness club market size was valued at approximately $96.7 billion in 2022
About 70% of fitness club members are between the ages of 18 and 44
The average employee turnover rate in the fitness industry is around 30% annually
Over 80% of gym memberships are inactive after the first year
The median salary for fitness trainers and instructors in the U.S. was $40,700 per year in 2023
Women make up approximately 52% of the fitness industry workforce
The fitness industry's digital services market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17% through 2028
About 60% of gym members prefer group fitness classes over solo workouts
The average age of a fitness trainer is around 35 years old
Approximately 35% of fitness facilities are independently owned, with the rest being franchise-owned
The number of fitness clubs in North America is over 40,000
45% of gym members report that motivation is the biggest challenge in maintaining regular attendance
The fitness industry spends approximately $250 million annually on employee training and development

With a global market valued at nearly $97 billion and over 40,000 fitness clubs across North America alone, the fitness industry is booming—but behind the sweat and success stories lies a complex HR landscape marked by high turnover, evolving digital demands, and persistent challenges in member retention and staff development.

Customer Demographics and Behavior

About 70% of fitness club members are between the ages of 18 and 44
About 60% of gym members prefer group fitness classes over solo workouts
78% of gym members own wearable fitness devices to track their workouts
The main motivator for gym members to join is weight management, cited by 62% of members
72% of buyers prefer personalized fitness programs
Approximately 25% of fitness centers offer child-friendly or family gym memberships
About 55% of fitness consumers prefer to book personal training sessions online
The average lifetime value of a fitness client is estimated at around $1,500, depending on services used
The largest segment of gym members are students aged 18-24, making up approximately 35% of memberships

Customer Demographics and Behavior Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of gym-goers tracking their workouts and a majority favoring group classes and personalized programs, the fitness industry is clearly evolving into a high-tech, community-oriented, client-centric ecosystem—aimed mostly at the young and ambitious—and all driven by the enduring obsession with weight management.

Industry Trends and New Developments

Only 15% of fitness businesses have implemented AI technology into their operations
Nearly 40% of fitness facilities have adopted app-based membership management systems
Nearly 30% of fitness facilities have integrated sustainability initiatives into their operations
80% of fitness businesses use social media as a primary marketing channel
Over 90% of fitness clubs plan to increase their investment in digital marketing in the next two years
Over 50% of fitness facilities use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to manage client data
About 18% of fitness facilities have implemented virtual reality (VR) training experiences for their clients
Nearly 60% of fitness industry marketing budgets are allocated to digital advertising channels
Only around 20% of fitness clubs offer nutrition counseling as part of their services
The percentage of fitness businesses that have adopted online class offerings increased to over 55% in 2023
About 40% of fitness facilities have implemented touchless check-in systems to improve safety and hygiene

Industry Trends and New Developments Interpretation

Despite the fitness industry's robust embrace of digital tools like social media and online classes, a surprising lag persists in AI adoption and holistic wellness offerings, indicating that while gyms are posting actively and going touchless, many still haven't fully lifted their game in innovation and comprehensive client care.

Market Size and Growth Metrics

The global health and fitness club market size was valued at approximately $96.7 billion in 2022
The fitness industry's digital services market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17% through 2028
Approximately 35% of fitness facilities are independently owned, with the rest being franchise-owned
The number of fitness clubs in North America is over 40,000
The average annual revenue per fitness franchise location exceeds $650,000
The global virtual fitness market is expected to reach $59 billion by 2027
The number of fitness apps downloaded globally exceeded 370 million in 2023
The average monthly gym membership fee in the U.S. is around $50
The proportion of private gyms to corporate gyms in the U.S. is approximately 60% private, 40% corporate
The fitness industry’s digital marketing expenditure is expected to grow by 20% annually through 2026
The average size of a fitness studio is approximately 2,500 square feet
The average number of monthly active memberships in large-chain gyms in the US exceeds 3 million
Approximately 2,000 new fitness facilities open in the U.S. annually, contributing to industry growth

Market Size and Growth Metrics Interpretation

With a global market exceeding $96.7 billion and digital growth forecasted at a 17% CAGR through 2028, the fitness industry's blend of individual entrepreneurship, franchising, and virtual offerings underscores a vital truth: in the $59 billion virtual gym revolution and with over 370 million app downloads, staying healthy has never been more digital—and lucrative—especially when a typical U.S. gym membership costs just $50 a month.

Membership Engagement and Retention

Over 80% of gym memberships are inactive after the first year
45% of gym members report that motivation is the biggest challenge in maintaining regular attendance
The top three reasons for gym membership suspension are illness, travel, and injury
The retention rate for gym memberships is approximately 35% after one year
The average retention rate for fitness memberships is around 50%, but varies significantly by region and facility type
65% of gym members are more likely to renew their membership if they receive personalized communication and offers
More than 50% of fitness facilities report difficulty in retaining members beyond the first six months

Membership Engagement and Retention Interpretation

With over 80% of gym memberships going inactive within a year and motivation cited as the top hurdle, the fitness industry's high churn rate underscores the urgent need for personalized engagement and supportive strategies to turn fleeting memberships into lasting fitness commitments.

Workforce and Employment Statistics

The average employee turnover rate in the fitness industry is around 30% annually
The median salary for fitness trainers and instructors in the U.S. was $40,700 per year in 2023
Women make up approximately 52% of the fitness industry workforce
The average age of a fitness trainer is around 35 years old
The fitness industry spends approximately $250 million annually on employee training and development
About 55% of fitness professionals are certified
The average tenure of a fitness trainer at a single gym is approximately 2.5 years
The fitness industry is estimated to create over 1 million jobs worldwide by 2025
About 67% of fitness industry employees are men
Approximately 65% of fitness trainers are women
About 45% of fitness staff are aged between 25 and 35 years
Fitness instructor certification programs are offered by over 50 different organizations worldwide
The average cost of becoming a certified personal trainer ranges from $400 to $700
The number of personal trainers worldwide was estimated to be over 350,000 in 2023
The most common reason for fitness staff leaving is low wages or lack of career advancement, cited by 45% of respondents
The majority of fitness industry employees work part-time, with full-time roles making up only about 35%
The fitness industry’s turnover rate increases during economic downturns, with a peak of 40% during recessions
Around 15% of fitness professionals work as freelancers or independent contractors
50% of fitness clubs have implemented employee wellness programs to boost staff productivity and retention
The gender wage gap in the fitness industry is estimated at approximately 10%, with women earning less on average than men
In 2023, there was a 12% increase in the number of fitness certifications issued compared to the previous year
The top three training specialties among fitness professionals are strength training, cardio training, and weight loss coaching

Workforce and Employment Statistics Interpretation

Despite pouring over $250 million annually into training and a growing certification map, the fitness industry's 30% turnover rate and persistent wage gap reveal that even in a business dedicated to health, retaining its own staff remains a rigorous workout.