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Aviation hiring trends survey predicts continued job growth

‘Encouraging’ results despite coronavirus pandemic slowdowns

A hiring trends survey conducted by online aviation jobs website JSfirm.com indicates that many companies predict at least moderate growth in 2021 as the economy continues to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. Pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, and avionics specialists remain in the highest demand, the company said.

A female aviation technician works on an engine. iStock photo.

More than 50 percent of the 200 hiring professionals, executives, and business owners responding to the company’s 2021 Hiring Trends Survey forecast at least “moderate growth” in the aviation sector. Additionally, almost 15 percent expected “significant growth.” About 20 percent predicted “no growth,” and 3.3 percent predicted declines.

Almost 33 percent of the survey’s respondents said they expected to hire personnel during the second quarter of 2021, which runs from April through June. Additionally, 66 percent said they didn’t cut jobs in 2020 despite a worldwide travel slowdown. The majority of those responding (76.5 percent) indicated that their companies plan to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels before the end of 2021.

JSfirm.com Managing Partner Sam Scanlon said that although “airlines make the headlines,” the small- to medium-sized companies that “make up the majority of our infrastructure made it through the past year and are now gearing up for growth.”

The company has continued to log an increase in traffic from both job seekers and companies looking to hire personnel, Scanlon said.

David Tulis
David Tulis
Senior Photographer
Senior Photographer David Tulis joined AOPA in 2015 and is a private pilot with single-engine land and sea ratings and a tailwheel endorsement. He is also a certificated remote pilot and co-host of the award-wining AOPA Hangar Talk podcast. David enjoys vintage aircraft and photography.
Topics: Financial, Career

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