The novel coronavirus pandemic has caused labor shortages across a wide array of industries—and aviation is feeling the pinch. There's been an exodus of engineers from this industry, and it looks like it’s going to continue. Why is it happening, and what does it mean?
The aviation industry was severely impacted by COVID-19. With travel restrictions, social distancing and vaccine mandates, and disruptions to the supply chain, the latest estimates show that there may be as much as a 49% decrease in civil aviation passengers compared to 2019.
As a result, aviation engineers are switching to industries that took less of a hit. IT and mechanical engineering, among others, didn't suffer the kind of impact that aviation did. In a survey of almost 4,000 aviation professionals, a talent recruitment service found that almost 40% of them moved to a different industry in 2021.
The pandemic isn't the only factor in play, however. In the same survey, researchers found that about 4% of respondents were retiring early. This doesn't seem like a huge number, but, when paired with a lack of new aviation engineers entering the workforce, it does represent a significant drain on the talent pool.
A lack of available work and a 10-15% decrease in pay rates have also contributed to a drop in the number of engineers. Some respondents also cited Brexit as a factor in the drop-in aviation jobs. Pre-pandemic sources indicate that one major contributor to the situation is the legacy of the engineer shortage of the 1970s-80s—something reflected in the fact that 54-year-olds currently hold the highest number of Part 66 licenses.
Overall, the aviation industry is primarily suffering from a decrease in demand. Engineers have responded by moving into careers that offer more opportunities. Early retirement and a steady decline in aviation engineers stemming from the 1970s to mid-80s have contributed to the shortage of available talent.
It's easy to view the pandemic as a cause of the shortage, but all it really did was highlight several weak areas. For one, a significant number of potential engineers aren't even aware that aviation engineering is a path open to the—recruitment services and employers within the industry are responding by reaching out to engineering students (and even high schoolers) to pique their interest in pursuing aviation. STEM initiatives that tap into kids' natural curiosity and affinity for jets and spaceships can help boost the number that chooses to enter the industry.
One problem that may contribute to this is the fact that aviation is primarily a male-dominated field. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), only 3% of C-level roles within the industry are held by women. Initiatives to encourage female students to enter STEM fields may naturally produce a larger number of aviation engineers.
Secondly, the industry is expected to make a recovery. This will take time—experts project that numbers won't bounce back until late 2022—but that gives aviation employers the opportunity to see where the pandemic hit them the hardest, develop more agile supply networks, and harden their operations against future disruptions. Some employers and aviation schools are also exploring ways to incentivize students to choose this industry, and better retain older employees to serve as mentors.
According to some pre-pandemic sources, the need for skilled aviation engineers was only anticipated to increase. Along with the maintenance of existing planes, improvements to aviation technology, new designs, and a steadily rising demand for air travel were expected to cause a parallel rise in the demand for licensed engineers. While recent years have impacted the demand for air travel, that doesn't change the fact that aviation technology is steadily changing and improving. There will always be a need for engineers to design, create, and maintain new civilian aircraft, military jets, and rockets.
Aviation isn't the only industry suffering from a shortage of skilled workers, but it is one of the hardest hit. While it will take time, aviation is expected to bounce back to its pre-COVID numbers. In the interim, employers would do well to reach out to potential future aviation engineers, attract more female students to STEM, and create incentives for new talent to choose aviation over other engineering careers.
