Aerospace industry unites for UK recruitment campaign to tackle skills shortages

ADS – the aerospace trade association representing more than 2,000 UK employers – has joined forces with the nation’s leading aerospace companies to launch an unprecedented nationwide recruitment campaign designed to combat a critical structural workforce shortage.

The nationwide ‘There’s Aerospace For You’ recruitment campaign addresses the findings of the latest ADS data that shows that two-thirds (66%) of employers in the sector are experiencing persistent workforce and skills shortages that hold back growth and to prepare the aerospace industry to compete for talent .

Across the broader aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors, the UK currently faces an average of 10,000 unfilled technical vacancies each year. What’s more, polling conducted for the campaign revealed that well over half (59%) of the public had not previously received any information about careers in aerospace, while half were unfamiliar with aerospace as a potential career path.

To help bridge this gap, ADS has launched the ‘Aerospace for You’ careers website alongside a nationwide tour of the ‘Aero Space’ – a recruitment pod built from the upcycled fuselage of an A318 jet. Following stops in high footfall civic spaces in Bristol and Belfast, the pod is currently at Farnborough International Air Show until Friday 24th July, before it continues its UK tour to Manchester (Monday 27th July) and Glasgow (Wednesday 29th July).

Investment in skills

Industry Minister Chris McDonald said: “To keep our world-class aerospace sector at the forefront of innovation we need to secure its next generation of talent, and There’s Aerospace For You sends a strong message that there’s a career for everyone in this exciting industry.

“Through our Modern Industrial Strategy we’re backing high-growth industries like aerospace with the investment in skills they need for the future, and whether your background is in manufacturing, construction, sustainability or digital technologies, this sector has a position ready for you in locations right across the UK.”

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, said: “Securing the future workforce of the UK aerospace industry is not a challenge that any single manufacturer can solve in isolation. It requires immediate, collective industrial action. We currently employ 113,000 people in world-class, high-wage roles outside of London, yet we are holding back our own growth potential by leaving 10,000 vacancies unfilled each year. The UK’s economic advantage and our advanced engineering capabilities are underpinned by this critical sector.”

The ‘Aero Space’ brings the website’s digital content to life, including industry case studies who serve as the faces of the campaign. The initiative encourages job seekers to see themselves in a sector that has historically suffered from limited public awareness. It aims to tackle deep -seated barriers, with polling indicating that 60% of young people currently would not consider a career in manufacturing due to outdated assumptions about factory environments and salary levels.

In reality, average aerospace salaries sit at £52,600 – a third (33%) higher than the UK national average.

The current city centre tour is intended to bring together industry leaders and senior government stakeholders to demonstrate absolute unity in addressing the national skills crisis head-on.

Job seekers, career changers, and graduates can explore immediate vacancies and localised training opportunities by visiting the online hub at: aerospaceforyou.org.uk