Dive Brief:
- Airline pilots are in demand as major U.S. airlines hike pilot hiring rates, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Carriers face pressure from the retirement of baby boomers; Boeing predicts a need for over 100,000 new pilots over the next two decades, AP said.
- Signing bonuses have helped some carriers keep afloat, while others, like Alaska’s Horizon Air, had to cancel over 300 flights in two months because there was no one in the pilot's seat. At Republic Airways, the lack of pilots and subsequent grounding of flights caused them to file for bankruptcy protection in 2016.
- In Southern California, the skills gap is affecting the ability to hire police officers. Hundreds of vacancies are pushing police and sheriff’s departments to offer additional vacation time and signing bonuses for those who transfer from other jurisdictions or complete training, The Press Enterprise reports. An aging workforce is exacerbating the problem.
Dive Insight:
With 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day in the U.S. and no end in sight, employers are feeling the squeeze of 31% of the workforce going off shift, permanently. While some of those eligible to retire are putting it off because of lack of funds, the skills gap will continue to broaden.
For companies looking to recruit a multi-generational workforce, hiring older workers may be beneficial for higher-level openings, but could pose challenges for lower ranking positions that don't pay as much as more experienced workers may expect.
Although the numbers for skills gaps may be affected by geographic area the consensus is the skills gap is a reality in today’s economy. For specialty jobs, the ability to maintain staffing levels can have a devastating, direct impact on the local community.