Workforce

Like many manufacturing sectors, the aerospace industry is facing an alarming workforce shortage: its ranks of certified mechanics are aging rapidly, and the sector needs many more young people to fill available jobs (CNBC).

By the numbers: “The average age of a certified aircraft mechanic in the U.S. is 54, and 40% of them are over the age of 60, according to a joint 2024 report from the Aviation Technician Education Council and consulting firm Oliver Wyman, which cites Federal Aviation Administration data.”

• “The U.S. will be short 25,000 aircraft technicians by 2028, according to the report.”

High-paying jobs: The industry offers excellent salaries, an inducement for prospective employees, CNBC points out.

• “Median pay for aircraft technicians or mechanics was $79,140 a year in the U.S. in 2024, compared with a nationwide median income of $49,500, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

Manufacturing as a whole: The aerospace industry’s worker shortage is part of a larger labor crisis in manufacturing, which could need as many as 3.8 million new employees by 2033, according to a Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study from last year.

• The study found that 1.9 million jobs could be left unfilled, underscoring the urgency of attracting more young people to the industry.

MI at work: Through initiatives like Heroes MAKE America, the MI, the workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM, is helping veterans and other Americans with applicable skills transition into jobs in the industry.

• HMA prepares transitioning service members and members of the military community for manufacturing careers.

Heroes in aerospace: The MI’s partners include major aerospace firms Textron Aviation and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. Earlier this year, HMA launched a new FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification training program to help fill the critical industry need for A&P mechanics.

• The program is offered at two locations. The first is in Wichita, Kansas, near McConnell Air Force Base, supported by Textron Aviation and delivered in partnership with Wichita State University’s Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology.
• The second location is in Georgia near Fort Stewart, in partnership with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and Savannah Technical College.
• The program offers an accelerated six-week course to fast-track participants toward FAA A&P certification, helping qualified service members become more capable and mission-ready during their military service and providing a steady pipeline of skilled talent for the aviation industry.

The last word: “Heroes MAKE America and our new Airframe & Powerplant certification program are critical to closing the aerospace skills gap,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

• “By equipping transitioning service members with the specialized training they need, we’re creating an effective pathway to high-demand, certified aircraft mechanic jobs. These initiatives not only support our veterans but also build a skilled, ready workforce that the aerospace industry urgently needs to thrive.”