AIA report: global relevance for workforce strategy in aerospace and defense

The report by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), developed in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, presents a comprehensive diagnosis of the workforce challenges facing the aerospace and defense sector. Based on surveys and interviews with industry leaders, the document highlights structural issues that go beyond the U.S. and offer useful benchmarks for other advanced economies.

According to the study, employee attrition exceeded 14% in 2024, and companies struggle to fill critical roles in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and software. Furthermore, the report suggests that workforce productivity must increase by 30–40% to meet future industry demands.

The findings emphasize that many companies’ current initiative, (higher salaries, additional benefits), are not enough to address the underlying issues. A deeper transformation in workforce strategy will be essential to remain competitive in the face of growing intersectoral talent competition.