Aerospace Labor Shortage: Unlock Sustainable Solutions

A Realist’s Take on the Labor Shortage

Listen, aerospace manufacturing is a marvel of human ingenuity. When I walked into the final assembly hangar at Boeing in North Charleston and saw the scale of it, I was absolutely blown away at how far civilization has come. But let's get real: we're grappling with a labor crisis that isn't a mere hiccup — it's shaking the industry's foundation and will continue to do so long into the future. Here's a no-nonsense breakdown so you can not only weather this storm but lead the charge. It doesn’t have to be public and social, just start advocating for the future to those around you. America should be at the forefront of all things aviation - at all times.

The Core Issues:

1. Talent Mismatch: We've got more jobs than skilled hands to fill them, and it's a widening gap.

2. Aging Out: Our seasoned pros are checking out, leaving a void in know-how and expertise. Incentivizing grays, pays.

3. Tech Roadblocks: It's not enough to bring new people in; we've got to keep everyone up to speed with evolving tech. This is an absolute necessity.

4. Basic Understanding: I went to Air Force Tech School in 2011 and took an avionics course at Sheppard AFB. An airman who later became a beloved friend admitted to the class that he hadn’t ever seen a ratchet, and that it was “blowing his mind”. This lack of knowledge of common and basic hand tools and the wisdom that often runs concurrent is missing. That’s not good..

Ripple Effects:

• Elevated Expenses: Don’t think this is confined to aerospace—rising labor costs are spilling over into the charter and travel industry at large.

• Industry-Wide Squeeze: The labor pinch is universal, affecting manufacturing across the board. Personal opinion - this is a market correction and balancing act like we’ve never seen. Transitionary period, plan accordingly.

• Supply Chain Mayhem: One small misstep here can set off a domino effect that throws the entire supply chain into chaos. Start to lay out and calculate the downstream effects from suppliers missing deadlines, and heads start spinning. Kind of like we’ve seen the last three years? How much of this “scarcity” is authentic may never be determined.

Strategies to Consider:

1. Forge Educational Alliances: We need to cultivate talent from the classroom to the factory floor. Trade schools are imperative. Open a checkbook maybe? Get creative. What’s ROI on a trade school or program vs. no employees and no income inside of a decade?

2. Embrace Automation: Tech isn’t our adversary; it’s a tool. Discernment required. Automation should reduce the menial burden on humans, cut their exertion, and increase revenue driving activities overall.

3. Revolutionize Recruitment: The job market has changed, and our hiring practices need to keep pace. We're talking policy shifts and a tech-forward environment. When you fish, you go where the fish are, and you feed them what they enjoy eating….

Root Causes:

• Post-Pandemic Shift: People are looking at careers differently now, full stop. There are means that weren’t previously available, and attitudes have shifted completely. People are also expecting different atmospheres and standards.

• Global Talent Showdown: The hunt for talent isn’t confined to our backyard; it's a worldwide competition. One generation is all it took. The internet is the pandemic.

• Regulatory Hurdles: The bureaucratic maze isn't just an annoyance; it’s a roadblock. Key players need to have a grasp of shifting regulatory environments. Hard to do when you have a failing assembly line, and bureaucrats are changing regulations, regularly.

Your Personal Playbook:

• Champion Education: Close the gap between academia and our industry. Be the liaison.

• Offer Mentorship That Matters: Give up-and-comers a lens into the day-to-day grind and glory of aerospace. Talk to the kids in your community.

• Commit to Constant Learning: The tech landscape shifts on a dime. Stay ahead or get left behind. Know what’s coming. Start practical, end with Naval Ravikant if you want a picture of the future.

• Engage the Community: Make aerospace a culture people want to be part of, not just a paycheck. BizAv has this quality, other segments are lacking.

• Competitive Collaboration: Even rivals can be partners in solving this industry-wide crunch. This is not a zero-sum game. It’s an infinite game and the pie is big enough.

Why Bother? Simple. Involvement doesn't just help you navigate the crisis; it sets the course for the industry's future. We're sowing the seeds for an aerospace ecosystem that thrives as opposed to just surviving. Again, this is not a zero-sum game. Game theory applies, and the best approach in this model is win-win.

Essential Reads & Resources:

• Advanced Manufacturing Transformation​

• Aerospace manufacturing in 2023 – the big issues​​

• Labor shortage still pinching aerospace and defense sector​

• Outlook 2023: Labor shortages continue to plague aerospace​

• House Addresses Labor Shortage in Aviation and Aerospace

To Engage, Detach

Hearing Jocko talk about oil rig SEAL training and his moment of detachment was wild. Here’s my benchmark and check on if detachment works for more effective analysis: Do SEALS feel comfortable doing it in combat situations during combat? Yes. Okay, that settles it. Video below.

• Zoom Out: Aerospace is complex. Don't get lost in the details. Step back to see the bigger picture.

• Listen Up: Stop talking, start listening. You'll catch insights you'd otherwise miss.

• Keep Cool: Emotions can cloud judgment. Detach and focus on the facts.

• Quick Resets: Use simple cues like a deep breath or stepping back to detach and think clearly.

Skin in The Game

The best book I've read this year: Skin in The Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

More insights on Risk Management and “Thinking Smart” than any book I've ever read.

Here are 3 quotes that changed the way I understood society, risk taking, and information processing:

1. “The curse of modernity is that we are increasingly populated by a class of people who are better at explaining than understanding, or better at explaining than doing.”

2. “For the robust, an error is information; for the fragile, an error is an error.”

3. “If you have the rewards, you must also get some of the risks, not let others pay the price of your mistakes.”

Ace

Ace, cigar hanging out of his mouth, growled at Neil Armstrong at a cocktail party, implying he should have “marked” the moon. A giant step for canines everywhere.

Thank you for reading Airplane Mode! Note to the reader: I can’t answer every email but will read them all and do my best to reply. Please continue emailing, I enjoy it. If you know someone we ought to interview, like someone making change happen for the better, or you have a topic you’d like to see in a future edition - send an email or a LinkedIn or Twitter DM.