Employment opportunities for funeral directors are expected to be good, particularly for those who also embalm. However, mortuary science graduates may have to relocate to find jobs.
Employment of funeral directors is projected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014, reflecting slow growth in the death care services industry, where funeral directors are employed. The need to replace funeral directors who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons will account for more job openings than will employment growth. Funeral directors are older, on average, than workers in most other occupations and should be retiring in greater numbers between 2004 and 2014. In addition, some funeral directors leave the profession because of the long and irregular hours.