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The aerospace industry is thriving and growing, with the latest reports showing 2.2 million employees and an annual revenue of $952 billion. Needless to say, things are looking good. But the success of the top aerospace and defense companies is, for the most part, thanks to the people who work for them. 

The achievements of all sectors, from aerospace manufacturing and air traffic control to space exploration and national security, are built on the efforts of their employees. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) 2024 report on workforce trends in the aerospace and defense industry (A&D) showed some key areas in the sector that could do with some improvement, which will only lead to benefits for everyone involved.

Trends in Aerospace Workplaces

Areas in which the industry could better support its workforce, according to the AIA, include managing to hold on to the talent, providing employees with better tools and training, and the overall need for better planning. 

We’ll look at these in more detail below. 

1. Positive Aerospace Industry Perception

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Let’s first start with the good news. The report showed that, in general, most A&D workers view the industry in a positive light. 81% of them feel that the sector is in line with their own values, purpose, and mission in life. The report showed that 72% of workers in other industries viewed A&D positively, too. 

These numbers are impressive, but it’s worth noting that hourly employees did not feel as connected to the industry and its mission as their salaried counterparts. Despite the majority having a good perception of the sector, there’s clearly some room to grow in relation to employee job satisfaction.

2. Challenges in Keeping Talent

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The A&D industry doesn’t seem to have a problem when it comes to attracting new employees; where it struggles is in keeping them. Employee turnover in the sector is concerning at 13%, which is higher than the average turnover rate in the US by 3.8%. There are many reasons for this attrition, including experienced and knowledgeable employees retiring or nearly there.

Plus, it’s no easy feat finding people with the right education and skills for the aerospace sector; whether they’re situated in an office or the International Space Station, the roles are notoriously demanding. To complete projects in a timely manner, and stop wasting a lot of valuable time on training new employees, management should look into ways they can keep employees happy and, therefore, on board.

3. Need for Better Tools/Resources for Employees

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Despite the industry’s heavy investment in IT and cybersecurity, the report showed that almost 50% of employees in A&D feel they don’t have the right tools or resources they need to do their jobs effectively. This was particularly evident in mid-career employees who aren’t newbies, but aren’t nearing retirement, either.

The workers also expressed that they don’t feel that they have enough power to implement or even suggest changes. Companies in the industry are typically equipped with all the latest computers and emerging technologies, but that doesn’t mean that their employees know what to do with them… which leads us to the next point.

4. More Focus on Continual Learning

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Workers need to have the correct knowledge, resources, and digital skills if they have any chance of keeping up with the rapid technological evolution taking place. The report hones in on the importance of continuous learning in A&D, whether it be learning new skills for the same job (upskilling) or new skills for a different job (reskilling). 

As well as training on things like new technologies, employees should be kept up-to-date on all the necessary and ever-changing government regulations, and security measures, as well as guidance on complex global supply chains. The study found that a mix of learning methods, including on-the-job training, is the best way to make sure that the employees are—and feel—equipped with the skills they need to do their job. 

5. Better Workforce Planning

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For long-term success, it’s not enough for management in the A&D sector to focus on filling vacant positions, label it ‘workforce planning’, and call it a day. They need to take more strategic hiring approaches that cover more than just meeting headcount goals. Companies need to address the diverse and evolving talent needs of the sector; however, ever-increasing skill complexity makes implementing diversification quite the task. 

Although hiring skilled folk should be at the top of the list, finding people who work great in a team is even more important. No one said it would be easy but, with proper workforce planning, finding team members with specialized knowledge as well as the ability to work well in, and adapt to, workplace challenges is the way forward.

Aerospace Industries Association—2024 Report

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According to the AIA, things have been significantly improving post-pandemic. There are 2.2 million workers in the sector—that makes up 1.47% of the total number of employed people in the USA. Within the industry, 57% of employees work for commercial aerospace and its supply chain, while 43% are with defense and security.

These employees are spread out around the industry’s four subsectors. Aeronautics and aircraft is the largest, with around 603,000 employees. Land and sea systems employs 155,000 people, while the space industry subsector has 811,000 workers. The final 94,000 work in the cyber subsector. The average salary is around $108,900, which is 55% higher than the national average.

The industry’s workforce brought in an impressive $952 billion in sales in 2022, showing a growth of 6.7% from the year prior. The economic value rang in at $418 billion, which is 1.65% of the USA’s total GDP. The trade balance was valued at $77.3 billion, and the total exports were worth $104.8 billion. 

It has to be said, however, that none of this would be possible without the workers—which is why AIA’s report stresses that more attention should be given to ensuring employees have job satisfaction.

Work Trends in the Aerospace and Defense Industry—Summary

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The AIA report shows five key areas where A&D companies could do with a little work so that their employees feel appreciated, needed, and capable of doing their jobs the best they can. Despite being viewed in a positive overall light, the industry suffers from a high employee turnover, something that wastes both time and money, and can even set important projects back.

To turn things around, companies need to concentrate on proper and efficient workforce management, strategic planning, as well as employee empowerment, skill development, resource provision, and ongoing training and learning. It all boils down to thinking about long-term capabilities, rather than short-term fixes.