Workforce
Supporting and nurturing a highly skilled and robust aerospace workforce is a core principle for AIA and our members. Our workforce efforts aim to stay on the leading edge of strategies to recruit and retain talent while reflecting our industry’s shared values.
Building the Aerospace & Defense Workforce of Tomorrow
The U.S. aerospace and defense (A&D) industry is powered by a highly skilled workforce of over 2.23 million professionals, representing 1.4% of the total U.S. workforce. These individuals are the backbone of American innovation, national security, and economic strength. From engineers and technicians to cybersecurity experts and advanced manufacturers on the factory floor, the A&D workforce is essential to maintaining U.S. leadership in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is committed to ensuring a robust and future-ready workforce by addressing today’s challenges and investing in tomorrow’s talent.
Data-Driven Insights: AIA’s Annual A&D Workforce Study
The Workforce Challenges
America’s A&D workforce faces urgent and complex challenges.
Talent Shortage
An aging workforce, high turnover, and difficulty retaining skilled workers threaten long-term sustainability.
Skills Gap
Rapid technological advancements outpace current education and training systems, especially in STEM, artifical intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Technological Disruption
Emerging technologies demand new competencies and continuous upskilling across the workforce.
AIA’s Role
AIA plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the A&D workforce.
Fostering Collaboration
We bring together government, industry, and academia to align workforce development efforts.
Supporting Training Programs
AIA advocates for federal and state investments in workforce education and apprenticeships.
Creating Opportunities
Through initiatives like the American Rocketry Challenge, workforce roundtables, and microgrants to Title I schools, AIA helps open doors for future talent.
AIA’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
AIA is dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusion that respects and values differences in backgrounds and experiences. We believe that each member of our team brings valuable perspectives and ideas to the table, and that in turn drives innovation, creativity, and effectiveness for our organization and our member companies. That means that anyone, from any background, can find a career path and a sense of belonging at AIA.
AIA takes meaningful action to promote these values throughout our work. A few examples of our efforts include hosting semi-annual aerospace and defense networking events for women from across the industry and advancing the participation of underserved communities in our American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest youth rocketry contest, through microgrants to Title I schools.
Our impact extends to the full aerospace and defense industry. Working alongside our industry CEOs and their human resource officers, AIA strives to develop and cultivate a broad talent pool that reflects our country and that will extend our industry’s global leadership.
President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association“The industry that brought Americans to the Moon did so by tapping into the ingenuity of hard-working, diverse Americans. Developing the next generation of world-changing innovations requires new ideas, fresh perspectives, and continued investment in the initiatives to nurture the workforce. AIA is committed to building and retaining top talent across American aerospace and defense – not only because it will make our organization and industry stronger, but also because it’s the right thing to do.”
Inspiring the Next Generation: The American Rocketry Challenge
AIA proudly supports the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket contest and a cornerstone of our commitment to workforce development. This hands-on STEM competition engages thousands of middle and high school students nationwide, sparking interest in aerospace careers and cultivating critical skills in engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Recent Workforce News
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Your Leadership ConnectionTalent & Workforce Team
AIA’s workforce leadership team is well-positioned to address members’ issues and advocacy needs.
