A recent study conducted by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and McKinsey has highlighted ongoing workforce challenges within the aerospace and defense industry. Despite efforts to enhance talent attraction and retention, these issues persist, necessitating innovative solutions to address productivity gaps.
The report, titled "Accelerating Progress—Maximizing the Return on Talent in A&D," provides a detailed analysis of workforce dynamics in the sector. It emphasizes the need for new strategies and sustained investment to bolster the talent pipeline and maintain the U.S. industry's competitiveness.
"The aerospace and defense industry continues to lead in innovation thanks to the power and ingenuity of our workforce – but the talent challenges we face continue to grow more complex," stated AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. "To remain a global leader, we must take bold, strategic action to attract, retain, and empower the next generation of talent. That means investing not only in people, but also in the technologies and partnerships that will secure our industry’s resilience and competitiveness for decades to come."
Insights were gathered from over 30 organizations representing more than 600,000 U.S. employees. The study also included perspectives from industry leaders, talent executives, national workforce data, and McKinsey's analysis. In 2024 alone, despite generating $995 billion in revenue with a 5.7% year-over-year increase, companies faced persistent challenges such as talent shortages, high attrition rates, supply chain issues, and production constraints.
Recently released reports include one by AIA and Accenture LLP titled "Artificial Intelligence in Aerospace and Defense," which explores how AI can help mitigate key challenges like workforce gaps.
As an advocate for modern workforce needs within this sector, AIA frequently publishes data on industry trends. The results of their 2024 Aerospace & Defense Workforce Study are available for review.
