Job market information
Finding out about aviation
The aviation industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The passenger transport sector incorporates rail, aviation, bus and coach, taxi and private hire, light rail and metro, driver training, and UK waterways. The sector accounts for 735,000 jobs, most of which are within the bus and coach, taxi and private hire, rail, and aviation industries. The passenger transport sector comprises a myriad of roles, from pilots and transport planners, to essential support roles in finance, marketing and human resources.
The aviation industry is a large employer in the UK and includes 30 commercial airports, plus numerous private airports and airfields. It includes people employed in:
- highly skilled and technical roles, such as pilots and air traffic control
- customer service roles, including passenger check in and support, terminal and airport management and cabin crew
- ground services undertaking tasks, such as baggage and cargo handling, aircraft preparation and flight planning
The UK aviation industry is dominated by a small number of companies. The introduction of the low-cost airlines changed the structure of the industry, but growth in this area is expected to slow.
Key facts:
- There are 138,000 people working in the aviation industry
- Only 4% of companies employ more than 100 people, but this 4% employ 86% of the UK aviation workforce
- The average age of an employee is 40
- There are female dominated roles in the industry, the main being cabin crew. Male dominated roles include baggage handling and aircraft ramp services
- The average working hours for an aviation industry employee are 38 per week.
- Just 10% of the workforce is employed part-time
- In 2009, more than 218 million passengers were handled by UK airports
Jobs in the industry fall into the following areas:
- Ground handling services – such as baggage/ramp handling, aircraft preparation, load planning officer, ramp supervisor, aircraft dispatcher
- Airport operations – such as airport duty staff, support officer to team supervisor, airport terminal manager, customer support staff, air traffic control
- Airline operations – such as passenger services staff, ground handling, cabin crew, first officer pilot, flight captain, cabin crew officer, aviation operation passenger services
Entry and progression
For most entry level roles, there are no specific academic requirements other than a sound basic education. For pilot and air traffic control jobs, A levels are usually preferred before applicants are accepted for training. Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers are required to gain specific professional qualifications. For any customer-facing roles, experience of working in customer service environments, such as a call centre, bar, restaurant or shop work is an advantage. In some positions including passenger services and cabin crew, it is also an advantage to be able to speak another language. In roles that require physical effort, such as baggage handling, applicants have to prove that they are fit and healthy. All applicants for aviation industry roles undergo criminal records bureau checks and certain criminal offences can prevent employment in the industry.
Most aviation industry jobs are advertised by the employers themselves.
Qualifications or experience in travel and tourism related areas are an advantage to those wishing to change career. For all jobs, the ability to follow instructions, keep to schedules and adhere to regulations is important.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses, apprenticeships (in Aviation Operations on the Ground and Cabin Crew), training schemes and vocational qualifications.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
138,000 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
Over 2,200 |
|---|
| Gender: |
63% male |
37% female |
|---|
| Age: |
11% of the workforce is under 25 years of age |
|---|
| 25% is aged 25-34 years |
| 31% is aged 35-44 years |
| 33% is over 45 years |
Employment trends and future prospects
Increasing security concerns, environmental pressures, rising oil prices, limited airport infrastructure and increasing openness in the airline market has led to significant changes in the aviation industry. Air travel has decreased in the past few years, as the industry has been affected by rising fuel costs and increasing amounts of regulation over noise and air pollution.
Skill requirements and shortages
For airlines, the main skills gaps are: job related IT (12% of companies reported a gap); safety/accident management (11%); and customer service (10%). The main skills gaps for those providing ‘air passenger transport on the ground’ are:
- Foreign languages (28%)
- Vehicle engineering and maintenance (12%)
- Logistics and scheduling of services (12%) (i.e. planning staff rotas and timetabling services)
- Job related IT (12%)
- Disability awareness (11%)
Occupational trends
Airlines tend to have few recruitment difficulties, as they can receive hundreds of applications for just a few vacancies. Airport operations companies report some occasional problems with both recruitment and retention and say that it is difficult to get enough applicants with the right skills for some jobs.
National and regional data
[N.B. Regional data presented are for the aviation industry and the passenger transport sector as a whole. Data derived from the Labour Force Survey, 2007.]
East Midlands – There are 4,900 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 14% of the workforce in the region is female. 14% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 62% is 26-49 years and 32% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; Welsh language; job related IT; and safety/accident management.
East of England – There are 13,600 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 25% of the workforce in the region is female. 9% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 7% of the workforce is under 25 years, 52% is 26-49 years and 41% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; job related IT; Welsh language; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
London – There are 25,300 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 20% of the workforce in the region is female. 42% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 4% of the workforce is under 25 years, 70% is 26-49 years and 26% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; foreign languages; safety/accident management; booking operations; and logistics and scheduling of services.
North East – There are 2,100 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 17% of the workforce in the region is female. 3% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 51% is 26-49 years and 41% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; Welsh language; and safety/accident management.
North West – There are 13,600 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 16% of the workforce in the region is female. 14% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 61% is 26-49 years and 33% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; disability awareness; Welsh language; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
South East – There are 49,100 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 25% of the workforce in the region is female. 11% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 48% is 26-49 years and 36% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; and job related IT.
South West – There are 6,100 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 19% of the workforce in the region is female. 4% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 4% of the workforce is under 25 years, 56% is 26-49 years and 40% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; job related IT; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
West Midlands – There are 6,500 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 19% of the workforce in the region is female. 27% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 7% of the workforce is under 25 years, 65% is 26-49 years and 28% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; safety/accident management; foreign languages; maths/working with numbers; and disability awareness.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 2,200 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 13% of the workforce in the region is female. 18% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 62% is 26-49 years and 30% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; job related IT; and Welsh language.
Northern Ireland – There are 2,200 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 21% of the workforce in the region is female. Data are unavailable on the ethnicity of the workforce. 9% of the workforce is under 25 years, 74% is 26-49 years and 17% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; safety/accident management; job related IT; and disability awareness.
Scotland – There are 10,400 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 16% of the workforce in the region is female. 2% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 56% is 26-49 years and 36% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; and disability awareness.
Wales – There are 1,800 people working in the aviation industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 18% of the workforce in the region is female. 4% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 54% is 26-49 years and 38% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: Welsh language; foreign languages; disability awareness; safety/accident management; job related IT; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
Salary levels
According to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2009 (by the Office of National Statistics) the average weekly gross pay in the UK aviation industry was as follows:
- Pilot £1,326
- Air Traffic Control £1,159
- Air Transport Operative £461 (this mostly relates to ground handling services)
- Air Travel Assistant £443 (this mostly relates to staff working in passenger services/customer services)
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using GoSkills AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
