Economic crisis and security concerns lead citizens to new professions: Barista training and Far Eastern sports take center stage

A service platform analyzed the categories most requested by individuals aiming to make changes to their lifestyles with the arrival of the new year.

While education-focused categories such as motorcycle license courses came to the fore in the first days of the new year, the increase in hobby areas such as handicrafts, sports, and dance also drew attention.

NEARLY 90 THOUSAND REQUESTS FOR NEARLY 200 HOBBIES

According to an analysis of nearly 90 thousand requests for nearly 200 different hobbies on the platform, individuals prioritize gaining expertise in various fields as they start the new year. According to a comparative analysis with 2024 data, motorcycle license and driving courses were the two most requested professional training programs, with an increase of more than 10 times compared to the previous year.

Following in the ranking is barista training, which saw an 8-fold increase compared to last year. Tattoo training also stands out as another area of expertise.

TATTOO TRAINING BECAME A PRIORITY

Individuals are prioritizing tattoo training this year, with a 675 percent increase compared to last year.

HANDICRAFT HOBBIES ON THE RISE

In addition to professional courses, there is also an increase in hobby courses. Handicrafts, in particular, stand out in this category. Among the most requested courses, ceramics courses rank first with an 839 percent increase, followed by sewing courses with a 575 percent increase.

GREAT INTEREST IN DIFFERENT SPORTS

A trend toward different sports is observed in 2024. In this category, the Far Eastern martial art Muay Thai ranks first with a 327 percent increase.

In second place are adult swimming lessons; learning to swim is among the new year's goals with a 290 percent increase.

In third place are self-defense and martial arts lessons, with a 227 percent increase. Wrestling, our ancestral sport, is also receiving intense interest. There is a 184 percent increase in demand for wrestling lessons compared to the previous year.

UNIQUE DANCE CATEGORIES AT THE FOREFRONT

In addition to sports, dance—another hobby category that ensures an energetic, fit, and cheerful year—also received intense interest in the first days of the year.

In January, demand for "oyun havası" (traditional folk dance) lessons increased by 182 percent compared to the previous year. Beyond general dance requests, more unique dance categories also became the focus of attention.

While demand for belly dancing lessons increased by 154 percent compared to December, folk dance lessons also maintained their popularity with a 150 percent increase.

News Source: 12punto