The Aerospace Talent Shortage Is Complex. Solutions Can Be Simple.

The shortage of pilots and maintenance technicians is recognized inside and outside aviation circles, but aerospace engineering is also struggling with employee retention, turnover, and workforce capacity. Between 2021 and 2031, the United States will need 3,800 new aerospace engineers every year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That projection may not reflect the full scope of current aerospace workforce needs, given the current plan for a lunar landing in 2023 and the proliferation of space enterprise: Bank of America Merrill Lynch has estimated that the global space economy may reach $2.7 trillion before 2050. Meanwhile, in Florida alone, a whopping 57 rocket launches took place last year—a new record, according to Space Florida.

With the global space economy booming, the industry needs more young people to get excited about, and pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To achieve that goal, the talent pipeline has to be widened, providing opportunities to both traditionally underrepresented groups as well as traditional groups.

The good news is, the aerospace industry has changed a lot since 1929, when an aeronautical engineering degree was first awarded to a woman, “Elsie” MacGill, champion of the Hawker Hurricane aircraft. Today, there are several women at the highest levels in aerospace, including Gwynne Shotwell, president and COO of SpaceX.

The bad news is, as of 2019 only 13.4% of all 147,000 U.S. aerospace engineers were female, according to “Women in Aviation: A Workforce Report.” Women’s participation in engineering and computer science remains low, and across all STEM fields, fewer women than men earn doctorate degrees, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Filling jobs and advancing innovation will require bringing more women and other underrepresented groups into the aerospace mix. The competitive landscape in aerospace has never been keener, nor the customer base more diverse. The US aerospace industry will not succeed if the talent pool does not reflect the best and the brightest in the United States.

What’s the solution? Certainly, we need more female role models across all STEM fields. Mentors, including both men and women, are also vitally important to the success of all students. And it’s important to reach girls at the earliest stage possible, to spark their interest in STEM.

For many students, however, the biggest obstacle is money. One way to lift the financial burden on students is for universities to team up with industry partners who understand the value of supporting student success.

Graduate student Taylor Yow is an example of the next generation of aerospace innovators who could benefit from this type of program. Later this year, technology that Yow and other students developed is expected to become one of the first American probes to touch the Moon’s surface since 1972. As the Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lunar Lander approaches the moon’s surface, Embry-Riddle’s “EagleCam,” a small satellite camera system, will separate from the lander, settle on the moon, and capture the moment the lander touches down. The lander will incorporate Columbia Sportswear’s
COLM
Omni-Heat Infinity reflective insulation, to protect it from the extreme temperatures in space.

Inspired by students working on the EagleCam, Intuitive Machines and Columbia Sportswear joined forces with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to establish a major new scholarship program for women in STEM. Launching in fall 2023, the Intuitive Machines and Columbia Sportswear Advancing Women in Technology Program will provide about a dozen scholarships for undergraduate as well as graduate students at Embry-Riddle.

Yow, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, said she never would have made it to Embry-Riddle at all, much less become a part of scientific history, without financial support.

More industry-academia scholarships are needed to inspire young women like Yow. In an industry known for innovation and creative problem-solving, surely finding the money to support and develop future industry leaders is a solvable problem.

If you are interested in partnering with an academic institution, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology lists colleges and universities with accredited programs.