GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Aerospace Industry Statistics

The aging aerospace workforce faces talent shortages despite growing diversity and pay incentives.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Average aerospace engineer salary is $128,000 in 2023

Statistic 2

85% offer health insurance coverage

Statistic 3

Bonus pay averages 12% of base salary

Statistic 4

401(k) match at 4.5% average

Statistic 5

Paid time off averages 20 days yearly

Statistic 6

Equity grants to 67% of executives

Statistic 7

92% provide tuition reimbursement up to $5K

Statistic 8

Overtime pay premium 1.5x for hourly workers

Statistic 9

78% offer mental health benefits

Statistic 10

Average total comp for directors $250K

Statistic 11

55% gender pay gap narrowed to 8%

Statistic 12

Relocation packages average $20K

Statistic 13

88% life insurance 2x salary

Statistic 14

Performance incentives for 76% of staff

Statistic 15

42% offer student loan repayment aid

Statistic 16

HSA contributions average $1,000 employer

Statistic 17

69% childcare subsidies provided

Statistic 18

Long-term disability at 60% salary replacement

Statistic 19

5% annual merit increase average

Statistic 20

94% dental coverage standard

Statistic 21

Profit sharing in 51% of companies

Statistic 22

33% offer pet insurance

Statistic 23

Executive perks total $50K avg value

Statistic 24

76% vision benefits included

Statistic 25

Commuter benefits save employees $2K/year

Statistic 26

62% ESOP participation

Statistic 27

Shift differentials 10% for night work

Statistic 28

45% of the aerospace workforce is over 55 years old in 2023

Statistic 29

Women represent 22% of the total aerospace employees globally

Statistic 30

28% of aerospace engineers are from underrepresented minorities in the US

Statistic 31

Average age of aerospace manufacturing workers is 47 years

Statistic 32

15% of aerospace professionals identify as veterans

Statistic 33

62% of aerospace workforce holds a bachelor's degree or higher

Statistic 34

Hispanic/Latino workers make up 12% of the US aerospace sector

Statistic 35

8% growth in female STEM graduates entering aerospace since 2018

Statistic 36

35% of entry-level aerospace roles filled by Gen Z in 2023

Statistic 37

Black/African American representation is 7% in aerospace engineering

Statistic 38

51% of aerospace executives are Baby Boomers

Statistic 39

Asian employees comprise 18% of the aerospace R&D workforce

Statistic 40

24% of aerospace technicians are under 35 years old

Statistic 41

LGBTQ+ identification among aerospace workers is 5%

Statistic 42

40% of aerospace workforce in the US South region

Statistic 43

Disability representation stands at 4% in aerospace firms

Statistic 44

67% white/Caucasian in US aerospace manufacturing

Statistic 45

Millennials account for 38% of mid-level managers

Statistic 46

11% increase in international hires in aerospace since 2020

Statistic 47

29% of aerospace pilots are female in commercial sector

Statistic 48

Union membership is 14% among aerospace workers

Statistic 49

Rural area employment in aerospace grew 9%

Statistic 50

52% of aerospace software engineers are immigrants

Statistic 51

Veteran women in aerospace rose to 3%

Statistic 52

33% of workforce in high-skill roles over 50

Statistic 53

Indigenous representation is 1.2% in Canada/US aerospace

Statistic 54

44% part-time or contract workers in aerospace supply chain

Statistic 55

19% growth in young female engineers 2020-2023

Statistic 56

6% of leadership roles held by people of color

Statistic 57

Average tenure of aerospace employees is 8.5 years

Statistic 58

72% of aerospace firms report talent shortages in 2023

Statistic 59

Time-to-hire for aerospace engineers averages 65 days

Statistic 60

55% use AI tools for aerospace candidate screening

Statistic 61

41% of hires come from university partnerships

Statistic 62

Campus recruiting yields 28% of new aerospace talent

Statistic 63

63% prioritize skills over degrees in hiring

Statistic 64

Referral programs account for 35% of aerospace hires

Statistic 65

49% use LinkedIn as primary sourcing tool

Statistic 66

Diversity hiring goals met by 52% of firms

Statistic 67

78% report difficulty hiring skilled machinists

Statistic 68

Virtual interviews adopted by 88% post-pandemic

Statistic 69

34% increase in contract-to-hire conversions

Statistic 70

61% partner with community colleges for talent

Statistic 71

Employer branding boosts applications by 25%

Statistic 72

47% use gamified assessments in recruitment

Statistic 73

H1B visas fill 22% of engineering gaps

Statistic 74

59% offer relocation assistance for hires

Statistic 75

Intern-to-full-time conversion rate is 70%

Statistic 76

53% face competition from tech for talent

Statistic 77

Predictive analytics used by 42% for hiring forecasts

Statistic 78

66% prioritize cybersecurity skills in hires

Statistic 79

Female candidate pool grew 18% via targeted ads

Statistic 80

75% of firms increased recruiting budgets 15%

Statistic 81

Gig economy workers fill 12% of short-term needs

Statistic 82

51% use VR for remote candidate assessments

Statistic 83

Retention rate in aerospace averages 82%

Statistic 84

Voluntary turnover rate is 9.2% annually

Statistic 85

68% cite work-life balance as key retention factor

Statistic 86

Top performers turnover costs $250K per employee

Statistic 87

74% offer flexible hours to retain staff

Statistic 88

Employee engagement scores average 71/100

Statistic 89

55% of exits due to career development lacks

Statistic 90

Retention bonuses implemented by 62% of firms

Statistic 91

Burnout affects 43% leading to turnover

Statistic 92

Mentorship programs reduce turnover by 20%

Statistic 93

81% stay longer with clear promotion paths

Statistic 94

Remote work options retain 67% of millennials

Statistic 95

Exit interviews reveal pay as 29% reason

Statistic 96

DEI initiatives boost retention by 15%

Statistic 97

52% turnover in first year for new hires

Statistic 98

Wellness programs cut turnover 12%

Statistic 99

76% loyal due to company culture fit

Statistic 100

High-performer retention at 89%

Statistic 101

37% leave for better opportunities elsewhere

Statistic 102

Alumni rehiring rate is 24%

Statistic 103

Predictive turnover models used by 48%

Statistic 104

Family leave policies retain 65% post-leave

Statistic 105

69% value recognition for staying

Statistic 106

Turnover peaks at 11% in Q4 annually

Statistic 107

Leadership training reduces exec turnover 18%

Statistic 108

83% retention with stock options

Statistic 109

Training ROI improves retention 22%

Statistic 110

45% of aerospace employees receive 40+ hours training yearly

Statistic 111

67% invest in upskilling for digital twins tech

Statistic 112

Apprenticeship programs train 15% of workforce

Statistic 113

52% use online platforms for compliance training

Statistic 114

Leadership development covers 28% of managers

Statistic 115

78% require cybersecurity certification renewals

Statistic 116

VR simulations train 41% on assembly lines

Statistic 117

34% budget increase for STEM training

Statistic 118

Micro-credentials earned by 29% of engineers

Statistic 119

61% participate in cross-functional training

Statistic 120

Soft skills training for 55% of staff yearly

Statistic 121

73% trained on sustainable aviation practices

Statistic 122

Onboarding training averages 4 weeks

Statistic 123

48% use AI for personalized learning paths

Statistic 124

Certification completion rate 92% for safety

Statistic 125

39% reskill for additive manufacturing

Statistic 126

Diversity training reaches 82% of employees

Statistic 127

56% annual training spend per employee $2,500

Statistic 128

Gamification boosts training retention 30%

Statistic 129

64% partner with universities for advanced training

Statistic 130

Hybrid learning adopted by 71%

Statistic 131

27% trained in agile methodologies

Statistic 132

Mentoring pairs 44% of new hires

Statistic 133

85% compliance with annual recertification

Statistic 134

Data analytics skills trained for 53%

Statistic 135

62% ROI from leadership programs

Statistic 136

Entry-level training costs $15K per hire

1/136

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Soaring beyond the clouds of innovation, the aerospace industry faces a defining moment as a remarkable 72% of firms grapple with talent shortages while navigating a workforce where 45% are over 55, 51% of executives are Baby Boomers, and a promising 35% of entry-level roles are now filled by Gen Z.

Key Takeaways

45% of the aerospace workforce is over 55 years old in 2023
Women represent 22% of the total aerospace employees globally
28% of aerospace engineers are from underrepresented minorities in the US
72% of aerospace firms report talent shortages in 2023
Time-to-hire for aerospace engineers averages 65 days
55% use AI tools for aerospace candidate screening
Retention rate in aerospace averages 82%
Voluntary turnover rate is 9.2% annually
68% cite work-life balance as key retention factor
45% of aerospace employees receive 40+ hours training yearly
67% invest in upskilling for digital twins tech
Apprenticeship programs train 15% of workforce
Average aerospace engineer salary is $128,000 in 2023
85% offer health insurance coverage
Bonus pay averages 12% of base salary

The aging aerospace workforce faces talent shortages despite growing diversity and pay incentives.

Compensation and Benefits

Average aerospace engineer salary is $128,000 in 2023
85% offer health insurance coverage
Bonus pay averages 12% of base salary
401(k) match at 4.5% average
Paid time off averages 20 days yearly
Equity grants to 67% of executives
92% provide tuition reimbursement up to $5K
Overtime pay premium 1.5x for hourly workers
78% offer mental health benefits
Average total comp for directors $250K
55% gender pay gap narrowed to 8%
Relocation packages average $20K
88% life insurance 2x salary
Performance incentives for 76% of staff
42% offer student loan repayment aid
HSA contributions average $1,000 employer
69% childcare subsidies provided
Long-term disability at 60% salary replacement
5% annual merit increase average
94% dental coverage standard
Profit sharing in 51% of companies
33% offer pet insurance
Executive perks total $50K avg value
76% vision benefits included
Commuter benefits save employees $2K/year
62% ESOP participation
Shift differentials 10% for night work

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

The aerospace industry clearly believes that reaching for the stars shouldn't bankrupt your personal galaxy, as evidenced by solid salaries, mental health support, and even pet insurance for your emotional support launch specialist.

Demographics

45% of the aerospace workforce is over 55 years old in 2023
Women represent 22% of the total aerospace employees globally
28% of aerospace engineers are from underrepresented minorities in the US
Average age of aerospace manufacturing workers is 47 years
15% of aerospace professionals identify as veterans
62% of aerospace workforce holds a bachelor's degree or higher
Hispanic/Latino workers make up 12% of the US aerospace sector
8% growth in female STEM graduates entering aerospace since 2018
35% of entry-level aerospace roles filled by Gen Z in 2023
Black/African American representation is 7% in aerospace engineering
51% of aerospace executives are Baby Boomers
Asian employees comprise 18% of the aerospace R&D workforce
24% of aerospace technicians are under 35 years old
LGBTQ+ identification among aerospace workers is 5%
40% of aerospace workforce in the US South region
Disability representation stands at 4% in aerospace firms
67% white/Caucasian in US aerospace manufacturing
Millennials account for 38% of mid-level managers
11% increase in international hires in aerospace since 2020
29% of aerospace pilots are female in commercial sector
Union membership is 14% among aerospace workers
Rural area employment in aerospace grew 9%
52% of aerospace software engineers are immigrants
Veteran women in aerospace rose to 3%
33% of workforce in high-skill roles over 50
Indigenous representation is 1.2% in Canada/US aerospace
44% part-time or contract workers in aerospace supply chain
19% growth in young female engineers 2020-2023
6% of leadership roles held by people of color
Average tenure of aerospace employees is 8.5 years

Demographics Interpretation

While the aerospace industry soars with innovation, its demographics reveal a stubbornly earth-bound reality: it's an aging, predominantly white, and male-led sector nervously eyeing a future where its veteran-heavy talent pool is retiring faster than its cautiously diversifying entry-level ranks can fill the void.

Recruitment and Talent Acquisition

72% of aerospace firms report talent shortages in 2023
Time-to-hire for aerospace engineers averages 65 days
55% use AI tools for aerospace candidate screening
41% of hires come from university partnerships
Campus recruiting yields 28% of new aerospace talent
63% prioritize skills over degrees in hiring
Referral programs account for 35% of aerospace hires
49% use LinkedIn as primary sourcing tool
Diversity hiring goals met by 52% of firms
78% report difficulty hiring skilled machinists
Virtual interviews adopted by 88% post-pandemic
34% increase in contract-to-hire conversions
61% partner with community colleges for talent
Employer branding boosts applications by 25%
47% use gamified assessments in recruitment
H1B visas fill 22% of engineering gaps
59% offer relocation assistance for hires
Intern-to-full-time conversion rate is 70%
53% face competition from tech for talent
Predictive analytics used by 42% for hiring forecasts
66% prioritize cybersecurity skills in hires
Female candidate pool grew 18% via targeted ads
75% of firms increased recruiting budgets 15%
Gig economy workers fill 12% of short-term needs
51% use VR for remote candidate assessments

Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Interpretation

We are feverishly chasing a mirage of talent, armed with AI, VR, and LinkedIn, yet still find ourselves at the mercy of a 65-day wait for engineers while competing with Big Tech and praying our interns don't flee.

Retention and Turnover

Retention rate in aerospace averages 82%
Voluntary turnover rate is 9.2% annually
68% cite work-life balance as key retention factor
Top performers turnover costs $250K per employee
74% offer flexible hours to retain staff
Employee engagement scores average 71/100
55% of exits due to career development lacks
Retention bonuses implemented by 62% of firms
Burnout affects 43% leading to turnover
Mentorship programs reduce turnover by 20%
81% stay longer with clear promotion paths
Remote work options retain 67% of millennials
Exit interviews reveal pay as 29% reason
DEI initiatives boost retention by 15%
52% turnover in first year for new hires
Wellness programs cut turnover 12%
76% loyal due to company culture fit
High-performer retention at 89%
37% leave for better opportunities elsewhere
Alumni rehiring rate is 24%
Predictive turnover models used by 48%
Family leave policies retain 65% post-leave
69% value recognition for staying
Turnover peaks at 11% in Q4 annually
Leadership training reduces exec turnover 18%
83% retention with stock options
Training ROI improves retention 22%

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

The aerospace industry's retention strategy is a high-stakes engineering problem of its own, where the costly launch failures of losing top talent are prevented by a surprisingly human payload of flexibility, recognition, and a clear flight path for growth.

Training and Skill Development

45% of aerospace employees receive 40+ hours training yearly
67% invest in upskilling for digital twins tech
Apprenticeship programs train 15% of workforce
52% use online platforms for compliance training
Leadership development covers 28% of managers
78% require cybersecurity certification renewals
VR simulations train 41% on assembly lines
34% budget increase for STEM training
Micro-credentials earned by 29% of engineers
61% participate in cross-functional training
Soft skills training for 55% of staff yearly
73% trained on sustainable aviation practices
Onboarding training averages 4 weeks
48% use AI for personalized learning paths
Certification completion rate 92% for safety
39% reskill for additive manufacturing
Diversity training reaches 82% of employees
56% annual training spend per employee $2,500
Gamification boosts training retention 30%
64% partner with universities for advanced training
Hybrid learning adopted by 71%
27% trained in agile methodologies
Mentoring pairs 44% of new hires
85% compliance with annual recertification
Data analytics skills trained for 53%
62% ROI from leadership programs
Entry-level training costs $15K per hire

Training and Skill Development Interpretation

The aerospace industry is meticulously bolting together its future workforce, investing heavily in digital upskilling and safety while shrewdly navigating an expensive runway from entry-level training all the way to sustainable and secure flight, proving that even rockets need well-oiled humans to build and fly them.

Sources & References

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