JSfirm Hiring Trends Survey Results

JSfirm.com, an online aviation-only job board, has released its sixth annual hiring trends survey. Jeff Richards, JSfirm.com manager, says, “This year’s results show that our industry is continuing to trend in the right direction. There will be more hiring in 2015 than any of the past six years.”

In summary:

• 342 aviation companies across various sectors were surveyed

• 92 percent will hire in 2015

• 78 percent are projecting growth in 2015

• 72 percent did not cut jobs in 2014 (up from 68 percent in 2013)

• 55 percent experienced an attrition rate of less than five percent (up from 48 percent)

• Skilled maintenance technicians remain the most in-demand hiring need

• April, May and June will likely be the busiest hiring months

• Companies report that lack of experienced candidates is their biggest hiring challenge

Results: Aviation Industry 2015 Hiring Trends and Expectations

Q1 - Approximately how many people does your company employ?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

1 - 10                                                                              46          13.45%

11 - 30                                                                            86          25.15%

31 - 50                                                                            53          15.50%

51 - 100                                                                          70          20.47%

101 - 200                                                                        43          12.57%

201 - 500                                                                        21            6.14%

501+                                                                               23            6.73%

Q2 - Were any jobs cut from your company last year (2014)?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

None                                                                             242          71.60%

1 - 5                                                                                58          17.16%

6 - 10                                                                                8            2.37%

11 - 20                                                                            11            3.25%

21 - 50                                                                            10            2.96%

51 - 100                                                                            5            1.48%

101 - 200                                                                          1            0.30%

201+                                                                                 3                0.89

Q3 - How many people did your company hire last year (2014)?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

None                                                                               28            8.21%

1 - 5                                                                              134          29.30%

6 - 10                                                                              74          21.70%

11 - 20                                                                            37          10.85%

21 - 50                                                                            37          10.85%

51 - 100                                                                          12            3.52%

101 - 200                                                                          6            1.76%

201+                                                                               13            3.81%

Q4 - What retention tools does your company use to minimize turnover?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

We pay higher wages                                                  112          10.10%

Our benefits are better than average                          148          13.35%

Flex schedules                                                              113          10.19%

Additional time off                                                         53            4.78%

The ability of the employee to speak their minds       157          14.16%

Recognition and appreciation                                      191          17.22%

Talent and skill utilization                                            124          11.18%

Educational reimbursement                                           72            6.49%

Continuing education/training                                      109            9.83%

Other                                                                              30            2.71%

Q5 - In 2015, my company is projecting:

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

Significant growth                                                          50          14.62%

Moderate growth                                                         219          64.04%

No growth                                                                      44          12.87%

Moderate decline                                                             4            1.17%

Significant decline                                                           2            0.58%

Not sure                                                                          23            6.73%

Q6 - How many people will your company be hiring this year (2015)?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

1 - 5                                                                              143          42.18%

6 - 10                                                                              49          14.45%

11 - 20                                                                            54          15.93%

21 - 50                                                                            32            9.44%

51 - 100                                                                          13            3.83%

101 - 200                                                                        10            2.95%

201+                                                                               10            2.95%

Likely not hiring                                                             28            8.26%

Q7 - When do you expect your company to hire? (Select all that apply)

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

1st Quarter 2015 (January - March)                           167          26.59%

2nd Quarter 2015 (April - June)                                 195          31.05%

3rd Quarter 2015 (July - September)                          141          22.45%

4th Quarter 2015 (October - December)                     76          12.10%

N/A                                                                                 49            7.80%

Q8 - What type of people will your company be hiring this year?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

Avionics                                                                       100            8.48%

Maintenance                                                                201          17.05%

Sheet metal/structures/composites/

fabricators/machine operators                                  83            7.04%

Interiors/cabinetry/upholstery                                 42            3.56%

Paint                                                                                71            3.39%

Quality assurance                                                         37            6.02%

Safety (SMS)                                                                  67            3.14%

Pilots                                                                               117            9.92%

Flight attendants                                                          22            1.87%

Dispatchers                                                                    42            3.56%

Line service                                                                    60            5.09%

Sales/marketing/business development                 57            4.83%

Social media manager                                                   8            0.68%

Customer service                                                           56            4.75%

Administration including

human resources/recruiting                                      57            4.83%

Management                                                                 60            5.09%

N/A                                                                                 21            1.78%

Other                                                                              38            3.22%

Q9 - What type of aircraft does your company primarily support?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

Helicopter                                                                      137          23.38%

General aviation: single and light

twin-engine aircraft                                                     140          23.89%

Corporate aircraft: Lear, Citation,

Hawker, Gulfstream, etc.                                            142          24.23%

Commercial/transport category:

wide-body aircraft, transport, etc.                                81          13.82%

Military: F-16, C130, V-22, etc.                                    45            7.68%

Unmanned aircraft system (UAS/UAV)                      12            2.05%

N/A                                                                                   9            1.54%

Other                                                                              20            3.41%

Q10 - Which best describes the service your company provides?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

Airport/FBO                                                                   81          18.04%

Maintenance repair and overhaul                              90          20.04%

OEM                                                                                 24            5.35%

Aircraft operator                                                           106          23.61%

Association                                                                      5            1.11%

Support service such as insurance,

software, data, etc.                                                          8            1.78%

School or training center                                               35            7.80%

Staffing/recruiting                                                          20            4.45%

Sales/distribution/lease                                                   22            4.90%

Other                                                                              58          12.92%

Q11 - What is the biggest challenge you have finding qualified aviation talent?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

No problem                                                                    44            7.91%

Our location                                                                 106          19.06%

Finding effective resources                                           42            7.55%

Lack of experience                                                     174          31.29%

Candidate pay expectations are too high                      99          17.81%

Our company pay is below standard                             25            4.50%

Lack of feedback from hiring managers                      14            2.52%

No time to actually recruit                                             24            4.32%

Other                                                                              28            5.04%

Q12 - What resources do you use to find aviation-specific talent?

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

Non-aviation Web sites

(Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, etc.)                      110            9.55%

Aviation-specific Web sites

(JSfirm, PilotJobs, AviaNation, etc.)                           259          22.48%

Professional networking Web sites (LinkedIn)          137          11.89%

Social media Web sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)        79            6.86%

Aviation contract labor companies                               50            4.34%

Aviation direct hire recruiting companies                    45            3.91%

Aviation job fairs                                                           52            4.51%

Local newspapers                                                          44            3.82%

Industry magazines                                                        38            3.30%

Aviation schools                                                             94            8.16%

Paid referrals from internal employees                        48            4.17%

Word of mouth                                                             175          15.19%

Other                                                                              21            1.82%

Q13 - What is your attrition rate? (percentage of turnover for direct hire personnel only)

Answers                                                            Responses          Percent

N/A; we are a staffing agency                                      13            3.90%

Less than 5%                                                                183          54.95%

6 - 10%                                                                           59          17.72%

11 - 15%                                                                         35          10.51%

16 - 20%                                                                         14            4.20%

21 - 25%                                                                         10            3.00%

26 - 30%                                                                           4            1.20%

31 - 35%                                                                           3            0.90%

36 - 40%                                                                           7            2.10%

Greater than 40%                                                            5            1.50%

About JSfirm.com

JSfirm.com is the fastest-growing aviation job distribution network with resume database access. Founded in 1999, JSfirm.com is a free service to job seekers. The company’s comprehensive Web site includes access to job postings, direct e-mail of new employment opportunities, free resume builder and networking tools. Companies receive direct access to resumes, management tools, and unlimited job postings with multiple user capabilities and a dedicated account manager to help plan a company’s candidate search program. For more information, visit: www.jsfirm.comor call (724) 547-6203 or (817) 560-0300.