The US Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is backing legislation that will push the government to address the looming shortage of qualified workers in aerospace. According to the bill, federal agencies led by the Department of Labor will form a taskforce to develop strategies to expand public and private aerospace training programmes. The taskforce will report to Congress annually on the progress of initiatives designed to encourage science, engineering, mathematics, technology and skilled vocational training. The average age of an American aerospace employee is over 50, and 27% of the workforce will reach retirement age by 2008.
Source: Flight International