There is not a clear national shortage of morticians, but some local and regional markets can have hiring gaps. BLS projects steady 3% growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 5,800 annual openings, which points to stable replacement demand rather than a nationwide shortage crisis.
The better question is whether your target state or metro has enough funeral homes hiring apprentices and licensed staff at pay that makes the career worthwhile.
Quick Answer: Is There a Shortage of Morticians?
Not nationally in the simple sense. The data supports steady demand and regular openings, not a broad shortage boom. Local shortages can happen in rural areas, smaller markets, or regions where funeral homes struggle to recruit licensed staff, but students should verify local hiring, apprenticeship access, salary, and licensing rules before treating the field as shortage-proof.
For the broader outlook, read Mortician Job Outlook. If your question is about demand generally, read Are Morticians in Demand?.
| Question | Direct answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a national shortage? | Not clearly; the outlook is steady, not a shortage boom. |
| Can local shortages exist? | Yes, especially where hiring, licensure, or geography limits supply. |
| What does BLS show? | 3% projected growth and about 5,800 annual openings. |
| What should students check? | Apprenticeships, local funeral homes, salary, and state license rules. |
Why People Talk About a Shortage
Shortage claims usually come from local employer experience, not a single national statistic. A funeral home may struggle to hire because:
- licensed workers are retiring;
- fewer students want on-call funeral service work;
- rural areas have a smaller applicant pool;
- apprenticeship supervision is limited;
- wages are not competitive with other careers;
- state licensing creates a long path before workers are fully productive.
Those are real problems for specific employers or regions. They do not automatically mean every student will have an easy job search.
What the National Data Suggests
The national outlook is stable:
- 3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034;
- about 5,800 annual openings;
- openings driven mostly by replacement needs rather than explosive growth;
- long-term demand supported by aging population and local deathcare needs.
That is a steady-career signal. It is not the same as a high-growth shortage occupation where employers compete heavily for every graduate.
Where Shortage Signals Are More Likely
Shortage conditions are more plausible in markets with:
- older licensed workforce;
- rural or geographically isolated service areas;
- few nearby mortuary science programs;
- funeral homes that need both directing and embalming coverage;
- high on-call burden;
- wages that lag the difficulty of the work;
- limited apprentice supervisors.
If a local market has low pay and high stress, it can have hiring difficulty even without high national growth.
How to Check Your Local Market
Do not rely on the word “shortage” alone. Check:
- How many funeral homes operate in the area?
- Are they hiring apprentices or only fully licensed staff?
- What is the state median and P25 salary?
- Does the state allow apprenticeship during school?
- Are nearby schools placing graduates locally?
- How long do graduates wait for full-time licensed roles?
- Is on-call work paid clearly?
- Are benefits strong enough to make the pay usable?
Use Mortician Salary by State, License Requirements by State, and the School Finder together.
What a Shortage Would Mean for Students
If your local market truly has a shortage, it may help you find apprenticeship access or a first licensed job. It does not remove the need for school, exams, background checks, or state approval. It also does not guarantee strong pay if the shortage exists because the job is hard to staff at current wages.
Treat shortage claims as a reason to ask better local questions, not as a reason to skip the licensing math.
Shortage vs. Good Career Opportunity
A shortage is not automatically a good opportunity. A good opportunity combines:
- enough employers;
- workable licensing rules;
- paid apprenticeship access;
- salary that supports tuition and living costs;
- benefits and schedule that reduce burnout;
- advancement into directing, management, or ownership if desired.
This is why job outlook should be paired with Do Morticians Make Good Money? and Mortician Requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are funeral homes struggling to hire?
Some are, especially in local or rural markets. The reason may be retirement, low applicant supply, on-call demands, licensing delays, or pay that does not match the work.
Does a shortage mean I can get licensed faster?
No. State licensing rules still apply. A hiring need may help you find an apprenticeship or employer sponsor, but it does not waive education, exams, or background checks unless the state has a specific rule.
Are rural morticians more in demand?
Often, rural markets can have fewer applicants and more hiring difficulty. But rural pay, call burden, and employer count vary, so check the local numbers before relocating.
Is the field growing enough for new students?
Yes, for students who choose markets carefully. The field is stable with annual openings, but local salary and apprenticeship access decide whether the path is practical.
Next Step
- Use Are Morticians in Demand? for the demand overview.
- Read Mortician Job Outlook for the full projection.
- Compare Salary by State.
- Check License Requirements by State.
Data Sources and Method
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024-2034: projection and annual openings.
- BLS OEWS May 2025: wage and state employment context.
- State licensing references: apprenticeship and license constraints.
- Method: this page distinguishes national projection evidence from local hiring difficulty so readers do not overinterpret shortage claims.