Avionics News April 2023 - 4

AEA NOW
PO INT O F CO MMUNICATIO N
HIRING NOW
L
ast year, we conducted a poll in AEA Wired
asking readers what their current employment
outlook was; whether they were hiring now,
later this year, not hiring at all or if they are overstaffed.
The results were nearly identical year over year with 84%
of respondents saying they are either hiring technicians
now or will need to hire later this year.
With recent market reports pointing to
robust sales in the avionics aftermarket
and an improving supply chain, there is no
surprise the data is similar to last year's
poll results and the demand for qualified
technicians remains strong. Any decline
in the percentage of companies that are
hiring could indicate the market is cooling
off or there is an improvement in finding
personnel. Our goal is to focus on the
latter, to continue to develop a pipeline
for the next generation and provide professional
development tools to improve the knowledge, skills and
abilities of our current professionals.
Over the course of the last few years in Avionics News,
we have highlighted the Aircraft Electronics Association's
workforce development efforts. We have shared the news
of our successful products and services ranging from
repairman equivalency for certification and apprenticeship
to veteran recruitment partnerships and our completely
new career website (AeroCareers.net) designed to attract
and retain the talent this industry has been seeking. The
list of accomplishments is impressive, but the job is not
complete and the association is amplifying its effort with
4 avionics news * april 2023
MIKE ADAMSON
the addition of a dedicated workforce development staff
member to help move the needle even further.
Nick Brown will soon join the AEA as our director of
workforce development. Brown currently serves as the
aviation electronics instructor for Kent Career Technical
Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more than seven
years, Brown has provided career, academic
and counseling support to high school
juniors and seniors, and he has helped
certify hundreds of students with the aircraft
electronics technician certification and
endorsements. Brown will be in Orlando for
the AEA International Convention & Trade
Show, April 24-27, and he will officially join
the AEA staff full time after completing his
academic year and moving his family to the
Kansas City area in June.
You will be able to connect with him
at the upcoming AEA Convention and find him at
any one of the workforce-focused sessions, including:
" Filling your Talent Gap with Hiring Veterans, "
" Recruiting, Retaining, and Staffing with Long-term
Incentives and Benefits, " and " Let's Talk About FMS!
(the Female Maintenance Situation). " Armed with the
AEA's new strategic plan focused heavily on workforce
development goals, Brown will further develop our
initiatives and continue the momentum created by our
workforce committee and staff. q
MIKE ADAMSON
President and CEO, Aircraft Electronics Association
http://www.AeroCareers.net
Avionics News April 2023

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