The global civil aviation sector faces a significant workforce challenge, requiring the recruitment of approximately 1.5 million new professionals worldwide by 2034. This pressing demand is highlighted in the latest Aviation Talent Forecast by training organisation CAE, released at the Paris Air Show.
For the first time, this biennial study includes air traffic controllers in its projections, estimating a need for 71,000 controllers over the next decade. This is in addition to substantial requirements for other key roles within the industry.
Specifically, the report indicates that commercial aviation will require nearly 1.3 million professionals. This includes 267,000 pilots, 347,000 maintenance technicians, and 678,000 cabin crew members, with a significant portion of these roles concentrated in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. The business aviation sector will also require a substantial influx of talent, projecting a need for 102,000 professionals, comprising 33,000 pilots and 69,000 technicians.
Marie-Christine Cloutier, CAE's vice president for strategy, performance, air traffic services, and marketing, emphasised that this immense recruitment need is primarily driven by "record demand for air travel and a significant wave of retirements expected across all categories." She stressed that with anticipated double-digit increases in both commercial and business aviation fleets over the next ten years, the industry must proactively "attract, train, and retain personnel. Cloutier underscored that highly skilled aviation professionals are not merely vital for safety but form the very "foundation for the successful expansion and resilience of the global aviation sector.
A major hurdle identified by CAE is the high dropout and failure rates observed across various aviation professions. For instance, in the U.S. alone, 30% of paid air traffic control students do not complete their training, according to the National Airspace System Safety Review Team. This highlights a critical need for more effective and comprehensive training environments to ensure that qualified candidates successfully enter the workforce.
The findings from CAE's forecast align with a recent study by the Aerospace Industries Association and McKinsey, "Accelerating Progress—Maximizing the Return on Talent in A&D." This report also highlights the escalating workforce crisis in the aerospace and defense industry, urging an urgent shift in approach and sustained investments to attract and retain talent.
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