Obtaining and Analyzing Aviation Industry Employment Data

Abstract

According to the author's review of a multitude of sources, there are 2,074,190 people working in the civilian aviation industry in 1985. However, in arriving at this figure, 18.7 percent of the data utilized are estimates and not actual counts. Other problems noted in arriving at this estimate include the fact that there is no consistent, across the board source of aviation industry employment data. Finally, there are key segments of the industry which do not keep employment statistics for themselves: general aviation, regional airlines, most of government aviation below the federal level, and such miscellaneous aviation related employers as travel agencies. The author suggests three things to help improve the aviation industry employment data base. First, aviation educators must become more familiar with the present data and its limitations. Second, aviation educators should strive to undertake research projects to establish base data in those parts of the aviation industry where only estimates are possible today. Finally, the aviation industry is encouraged to track its own employment information in order to contribute to better preparation of its employees through aviation education.