Aerospace industry faces workforce shortage, study finds

IndustryWeek (6/1, Katz) reports, "The U.S. aerospace industry faces declining workforce numbers that could result 'in a disastrous loss of intellectual capital for the industry' if measures aren't taken to attract more skilled applicants," a report from the Interagency Aerospace Revitalization Task Force indicates. "The study concludes that a lack of U.S. students with strong math and science skills coupled with a graying workforce and recruiting and retention challenges could leave the industry with a major skilled-worker shortage." The authors also offer a number of "strategies to address what they consider to be the most significant challenges related to securing a skilled aerospace workforce." Among them are "sustained collaboration -- utilizing federal resources to develop long-term collaboration between governmental agencies and the aerospace industry," as well as "working with industry partners to develop an Internet-based interactive resource that can be used to promote potential workforce solutions such as STEM education and training."