Trump: Manufacturing vs. Aviation Hiring Challenges
The aviation industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled aircraft mechanics, a challenge compounded by an aging workforce and President Trump’s focus on manufacturing jobs. The average age of certified aircraft mechanics in the U.S. is 54, with a significant portion nearing retirement, creating a looming crisis. Airlines and manufacturers, like American Airlines and GE Aerospace, are actively working to attract younger talent to fill these vital roles, emphasizing the high-tech nature of modern aviation manufacturing, and offering competitive salaries, with some technicians perhaps earning up to $130,000 annually. This shortage, exacerbated by the pandemic, presents complex hurdles that could impact the future of aerospace; stay tuned to News Directory 3 for more updates on these developments. Discover what’s next for the aviation workforce and the strategies being implemented to overcome this shortage.
Aviation Industry Faces Skilled Worker Shortage
Updated June 08,2025
The aviation industry is struggling to find and retain skilled workers to build and maintain airplanes and engines,despite President Donald Trump’s push to bolster manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
A 2024 report by the Aviation Technician Education Council and Oliver Wyman revealed that the average age of a certified aircraft mechanic in the U.S. is 54, with 40% over 60. The report, citing FAA data, projects a shortage of 25,000 aircraft technicians by 2028.
American Airlines is among those working to address the looming crisis. David Seymour, chief operating officer for American Airlines, which operates more than 6,000 daily flights, noted the wave of retirements expected among mechanics hired in the 1980s and 1990s.
Airlines and manufacturers are now focusing on attracting younger talent to fill these critical roles and maintain the future of aviation manufacturing.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem. GE Aerospace’s chief human resources officer, Christian Meisner, said the industry went from a “serious ramp” to “zero demand overnight,” resulting in important talent loss through layoffs and buyouts.
GE, which partners with Safran to produce engines for Boeing and Airbus, is increasing hiring. The company said base pay at its Lafayette, Indiana, engine plant averages $80,000 to $90,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications. Employees can also earn FAA licenses while working at GE.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median pay for aircraft technicians and mechanics was $79,140 in 2024,compared to the national median income of $49,500. The agency projects 13,400 job openings each year for the next decade.
American Airlines’ Seymour said technicians could earn up to $130,000 annually within nine years, with recent pay raises.
Gordon Hanson, a professor of urban policy at Harvard University, noted that manufacturing comprises about 9% of U.S. employment, adding, “we all have a bit of a fetish with manufacturing because we focus on it more than other sectors.”
Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, emphasized the need for increased wages, warning that the global workforce shortage will impact various sectors, including aerospace.
“We need to increase wages,” said Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair station Association. “The entire world is going to feel this workforce shortage.”
Some students are considering trade schools over customary collage to enter the field sooner.Sam Mucciardi, a senior at Aviation high School in Queens, New York, said he would take an airline prospect if offered.
Aviation High School Principal Steven Jackson said more students are going directly to major airlines like American, Delta, and United due to the high demand for technicians.The school received about 5,000 applications this year.
american airlines is partnering with high schools and even junior high schools to raise awareness about aerospace careers. GE’s meisner emphasized that modern manufacturing is ”high tech,” involving “laser-guided machine,precision machining operations,exotic coatings and metals.”
Krystal Godinez, a graduate of GE’s apprentice program in Lafayette, said, “I feel like what I do here definitely does matter… We’re there to kind of keep people safe out there and make them feel safe.”
Seymour expressed optimism that younger people are becoming more interested in hands-on careers.
“There was a period of time when people said ‘I want a computer, I want tech,'” he said. ”there are people who want to get their hands dirty.”
What’s next
the aviation industry will likely continue its outreach efforts to attract younger workers and address the growing shortage of skilled aircraft mechanics. Increased wages, apprenticeship programs, and partnerships with schools are expected to play a crucial role in filling the gap and ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel.