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.