Aging demographics and a shrinking working population are causing headaches for all industries, and aviation is no exception; labor shortages are nothing short of severe and compounding by the year.
Boeing’s “Pilot Technician Outlook” estimates that North America alone will require 127,000 new pilots by 2042. Reports of airlines being forced to ground aircraft due to a shortage of cockpit crew are becoming more commonplace, which is extremely costly. Suzanne Benoit, president & CEO of the Quebec Air Transport Association (AQTA), says, “The shortfall of pilots in North America is expected to remain at significant levels over at least the next 10 years.” We are told by some carriers that they have resorted to lobbying governments for more flexible permits for foreign workers and even considering hiring retirees to plug the gap.
According to Marc Parent, CEO of CAE, half of the pilots flying in 10 years haven’t begun training yet. However, he is confident that advances in the quality and realism of its simulators could expedite the time it takes to qualify. “With a high demand for pilots, we use data to accelerate their training and ensure they reach required standards faster. We prepare pilots for critical scenarios they might never see in their careers.”
Specialist mechanics and aeronautical engineers are also in short supply; aside from being poached by higher-paying countries, companies are fighting over talent. As one of the most labor-intensive subsectors, the global MRO market is expected to grow more than 33 percent between 2023 and 2033; those we spoke to unanimously cited the workforce as their greatest concern.