Opinion: Why Young People Are Turning Away From Aerospace

As a 20-year-old college student looking to make my way into the aerospace industry, I have challenged myself to identify trends within it that could be opportunities for growth, change and optimization. However, one trend must be addressed as we look toward the future of aviation, defense and space exploration: This industry is aging—fast.

Why is it that aerospace is not resonating with new generations of students, and why are my peers so repulsed by the idea of working in an industry that was able to go from the first manned flight to the first person on the Moon in less than 70 years? I am not sure, but a couple of major factors might be influencing them.

It is hard to ignore that the participants at industry events or conferences are typically in their 50s or 60s and overwhelmingly male. There is a clear dearth of young analysts, engineers and financial professionals interested in joining aerospace. Alarms should be sounding.

This industry always has been pushed forward by new minds passionate about innovating the ways we utilize aircraft for the advancement of humanity. Yet for some reason, young entrants into the job market feel as if entering aerospace will limit their overall potential for growth. When asked, members of my community at New York University (NYU) say that seeing so many older individuals in the industry worries them. It makes them feel that pursuing a career with an airline or aircraft engineering company will limit their ability to move into other industries, should they choose to do so. In addition, female members of NYU’s aerospace community feel uncomfortable being pioneering forces in an industry so dominated by men.

These issues are not necessarily limited to aerospace, but when combined with the lack of financial incentives for new graduates, it becomes hard for many students to justify joining the industry—especially when they could earn significantly more in a remote or hybrid position in tech. Across nearly all job functions, entry-level positions in aerospace seem to pay less than their equivalents in other industries, factoring in attractive salaries and benefits. The appeal of working for a large corporation was lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not come back, giving students the impression that they would be joining an out-of-touch industry.

It is sad to consider that without solutions, aerospace will stagnate. As travel demands continue to rise along with the need for more environmentally sustainable energy options, we simply cannot afford that. There needs to be a much stronger and more concerted push to highlight the vast opportunities within an industry as global and multifaceted as aerospace. We must unify to incorporate environmental scientists, biologists, journalists and anyone willing to contribute wholeheartedly to the advancement of this field we love so much.

Admittedly, I sometimes wonder whether it would be a mistake to start my career in a field so specialized. But then I quickly remember that my peers and I have an opportunity to enter the job market at a time of great aerospace innovation, especially with regard to energy, urban mobility and new passenger experiences. My generation needs to step in and take the reins from the current generation of amazing problem solvers, environmentalists and leaders.

The danger is that not enough of us will step up to fill that need. If things do not change, aerospace could be headed into an era of stasis. This is why we need to make young people aware of and excited about the amazing opportunities available in this growing and evolving industry.

Oliver Madilian is president-elect of NYU’s Aerospace Business Club. He is majoring in media communications, specializing in data analytics and digital media communications.

The views expressed are not necessarily those of Aviation Week.