Turbulence ahead in the Aviation Sector

Wednesday 23 February

Turbulence ahead in the Aviation Sector

Aviation industry leaders are calling on young people and others to consider jobs as pilots, flight attendants and avionic technicians following the release of a report highlighting the need for significant increases in the aviation workforce.

At a parliamentary function tonight the Hon Harry Duynhoven and the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) released the Aviation Report which forecasts the skills and number of people needed to cater for this crucial sector of the tourism industry. The Report prepared by Polson Higgs and Co says over 1400 new people are required each year to cover growth and replace those leaving the aviation workforce.

The Chief Executive of ATTTO, Gayle Sheridan says there is a huge challenge ahead for the sector to meet the predicted large number of new entrants required. “Jobs in the airline industry are challenging and hold great opportunities for young people going out into the world.

ATTTO and the wider aviation and tourism industries need to get this message out to the workforce.” she says. But Ms Sheridan says the immediate priority for ATTTO is to work with employers in the aviation sector to ensure that training programmes are fit for purpose and to improve efficiency of the workforce. “We will also be making sure existing training programmes are tightly aligned with industry requirements to maximise performance of staff,” she says.

Ms Sheridan says the aviation industry also needs to make sure there is adequate tertiary training opportunities available to people wanting to enter the industry and to provide career paths so that skilled people stay in the industry.
ATTTO Board Chair, Murray Strong says New Zealand is not alone in recognising that as a nation it is operating in an increasingly competitive labour market with low unemployment levels, sound economic growth and continued high labour demand. “Accordingly it is timely to recognise that current business models will require some re-engineering to deal with the demands forecast in this report.”

Highlights of the Report: Growth over the next five years in the industry is estimated to be at least 2-3% per annum Some 16% of all workers in the industry are aged 55 years or more 1400 new entrants are required per annum to cover growth and to replace people who leave the industry Largest requirement will be for pilots, flight attendants and avionic technicians.

Emerging skills identified as required by employers are: Technological skills Customer service skills Understanding of regulatory compliance obligations and procedures. The Aviation Report follows the release of the Tourism Workforce and Skills Projections Report by the Tourism Industry Association and partners in November.

ENDS

© Scoop Media