By now, we have all been informed of the tremendous growth ahead for the aviation industry.
The eye-popping number is the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) forecast of 8.2 billion air travelers by 2037. All sectors of aviation will need to grow along with this – from pilots and other airline personnel, to aircraft maintenance technicians, to ground handling personnel.
The number of people needed on the ramp, fueling aircraft, loading and unloading bags and pushing back planes for on-time departures is growing rapidly.
According to the 2018 IATA Human Resources Report, 76 percent of respondents expect growth in ground operations over the next two years while 81 percent anticipate growth in the coming decade.
With this in mind, the Airport Services Association (ASA) is taking steps to help the industry attract the next wave of the ground support workforce. The ASA urges constructive recruiting methods by utilizing online job boards, social professional networks and word-of-mouth to find potential candidates for employment.
According to the ASA, 69 percent of candidates want detailed information about the responsibilities of their role. So, they say it’s imperative to outline specific demands of ground handling duties while also sharing the positive aspects of this line of work.
Recruiting new talent is only half the battle, of course. Retaining that talent is also critical for long-term success. The ASA notes that 33 percent of candidates prioritize professional development when deciding whether to accept a job. Mentioning benefits and opportunities for professional growth in a job description is important.
The anticipated growth lying ahead of us is exciting. With the right people in place, this growth can be a golden opportunity for ground handlers. But if we can’t attract the right candidates, this rapid growth can quickly become a challenge.
