Visible Tattoos Slightly Cut Hiring Odds as 40% of Britons Aged 25-49 Have Ink
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 10
Visible Tattoos Slightly Cut Hiring Odds as 40% of Britons Aged 25-49 Have Ink
2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 10
Summary
Dr Alyssa Grocutt’s PhD research found job applicants with visible tattoos are still slightly less likely to be hired than candidates without them, despite tattoos becoming far more mainstream.
Visible placement drives much of that gap: hand, neck and face tattoos remain the least accepted, with 2022 YouGov data showing about two-thirds of people view face or neck tattoos as unprofessional.
Tattoo content also shapes perceptions in the research, with intimidating designs such as a skull and knife seen as risky, while softer floral tattoos were linked to creativity and artistry.
Creative industries and entrepreneurship appear more accepting, where Grocutt says tattoos can function as part of a personal brand rather than a liability.
That tension reflects a broader shift in Britain, where a 2024 YouGov poll found 40% of 25-49 year-olds have at least one tattoo even as workplace stigma has not fully disappeared.