Northwest Aerospace News PNAA 2021 ADVANCE | Page 118

THE NEED CONTINUES FOR SKILLED WORKERS IN THE

AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

DANIEL L . HAMMES ( DAN ) MBA / MML / MS-OM / MAL / MSPM Campus Director – Seattle & Tacoma Campuses U . S . Campus Operations 425-226-2484 / 253-589-1728 • hammesd @ erau . edu
Whether you believe there will be a “ Snapback ” or a slow ramp up , it is apparent that we need to work together to support the need for skilled aerospace / aviation workers . We are in this together and need to take the steps now to prepare for the industry ’ s future needs . As noted by M . C . Moeira , the aviation industry faces a shortage of skilled professionals , where pilots and maintenance technicians are the most visible area ( Local Governments as Enablers of the Aviation Workforce , 2019 ). This shortage will be more apparent as the industry ramps back up following the economic downturn due to COVID-19 . According to the FAA , of the 295,000 individuals that hold a mechanic certificate and the 35,000 that hold a repairmen certificate , the medium age is 54 ( GAO-20-421T , 2020 ).
Prior to 2020 , Washington Aerospace and defense products accounted for $ 50 billion in exports ( Washington State Aerospace 2019-2020 Sector Strategy , 2019 ). Though in 2020 there was a slowdown in the economy , with a 27 % decrease in aerospace and miscellaneous transportation between February and April ( Manufacturers Try to Bounce Back after COVID-19 Disruptions , 2020 ), Washington State aviation and aerospace sectors are anticipated to recover over the next two to three years . In an October 6 , 2020 report from Boeing , the company anticipates that though the near-term commercial services demand is lower than planned , the industry is anticipated to be a $ 3 trillion market by 2029 . This includes the importance of digital solutions as a critical enabler ( Boeing Forecasts Challenging Near-Term , 2020 ) and the need for a trained workforce is more important than ever .
118 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2021