Debunking the "Offseason" Myth of the Aquatics Industry

How do you picture a career in aquatics? Perhaps warm weather, sunny days and cooling down poolside. While it's true that summer is our busiest time of the year, there's a common misconception that aquatics is a purely seasonal industry. In reality, it's a year-round powerhouse that offers thriving, long-term careers with significant growth potential.

Diving into the Economic Impact

Making a splash in the economy, the pool and hot tub industry is surging at an unstoppable rate. The hot tub market alone is projected to reach $817.2 million by 2034, while just the global swimming pool construction market is anticipated to reach $9.8 billion by 2033. 

Among industry members, confidence in our success is also higher than ever. 69% of pool and hot tub companies anticipate continued growth into 2026 (PHTA 2025 Q3 Pulse Survey). Earlier this year, two of the largest aquatics sectors – construction and utilities – experienced this directly with 9.8% and 11.5% increases, respectively. This growth is a direct reflection of the year-round work across the flourishing manufacturing, retail, service, and construction sectors.

Year-Round Opportunities: The Sectors in Action

Now, let's paint the full picture of this industry's impact. While parts of the country may pause aquatic operations in the winter, warmer states have aquatic spaces that require regular check-ins – and let's not forget indoor pools and entertainment destinations and aquatics centers. Most importantly, planning for peak season is an all-year effort. 

Whether manufacturing parts, drafting designs, or breaking ground on a new construction site, here's how our sectors keep the pipeline of work moving throughout the year. 

Manufacturing

Always innovating and creating, the manufacturing sector is a fast-paced environment. Our sharp-minded teams develop top-quality products and equipment to supply construction, service and retail with top-notch tools and resources all year long. This sector also plays an important role in production cycles and the overall supply chain, organizing and facilitating time-sensitive shipments. 

Check out a few of the roles you can dive into in aquatics manufacturing:

Retail 

Demonstrating the value and benefits of aquatics to clients, families and vendors, the sales sector thrives on all-year growth to meet both financial goals and cultivate strong client connections. During the offseason, sales pros work around the clock on project planning and support, design consultations, and maintenance needs. 

As a crucial piece in the overall flow of our industry, here's a glimpse of the retail positions where you can make an impact:

Service

Whether closing pools ahead of winter or preparing spring openings, the service sector is a 24/7 business. Our aquatic spaces require troubleshooting, monitoring, potential repairs, and constant filtration and sanitation, which are conditions that aren't dependent on the weather. No matter the season, our maintenance professionals are crucial in keeping a safe and clean environment. 

If you're ready to get your feet wet in a dynamic, in-demand sector, explore these roles:

Construction

Bringing aquatic spaces to life, our construction teams showcase the beauty of our industry through every project. Much of the preparation and planning behind-the-scenes takes place during the winter season – securing permits, developing blueprints, and excavating the grounds. Plus, the offseason is the time many pool owners turn to construction crews for renovations and remodels. 

With exciting projects and little to no experience requirements, these are some of the roles where you can jump into aquatics construction:

Why Aquatics?

The aquatics industry offers so much to job seekers. It's an industry that is resilient in the face of all changes and challenges. From pandemics and economic shifts to the impending impact of AI in the workforce, we're built to last. 

The pool and hot tub industry is committed to innovation and growth, positioning us for an even stronger future. More importantly, our opportunities have no boundaries. Prior experience isn't required for most roles, and professional development is routinely encouraged through certifications, apprenticeships and other industry training.

Experience Year-Round Growth With Us

Reconsider the preconceptions about aquatics being a seasonal industry and see that success exists here. For many of our sectors, winter is arguably an even busier time of year when planning comes to life in anticipation of the peak spring and summer seasons. 

While growing our own field, we're also fueling individual career advancement and now's the time we're building up our workforce with endless opportunities. 

Learn more about year-round career paths and explore the openings near you today.