This page provides high-level information on the aerospace sector.
The Aerospace sector maintains and repairs commercial and military aircraft, as well as manufacturing aircraft and aircraft components.
The aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector is made up of a mix of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), independent service providers, and airlines with internal MRO capabilities. Services offered include line and heavy maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification of complete aircraft, aircraft engines and accessories, airframes and systems, aircraft systems and components, avionics and instruments.
Vocational education and training (VET) is required typically for the aerospace occupation:
The MRO sector is highly regulated and very reliant on highly skilled labour to provide maintenance services.
Nationally recognised training for the aerospace industry is delivered under the MEA – Aeroskills Training Package.
For other information on manufacturing, visit the Manufacturing and related services cluster page. For information on the Aviation industry, visit the Aviation sector page.
All data sources are available at the end of the page.
Overall, employment levels of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers grew by 19% between 2002 and 2022, from 9,700 to 11,500. However, employment levels fluctuated, rising to 17,900 in 2009 and declining to 6,100 in 2020, due to reduced flight activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employment levels are projected to decline to 9,400 by 2026.
Overall, program enrolments in Aerospace-related qualifications increased from 1,250 in 2017 to more than 1,460 in 2021. Conversely, the number of program completions decreased 12% from approximately 460 in 2017 to about 410 in 2021.
The number of enrolments in subjects delivered as part of a nationally recognised program grew from 16,000 in 2017 to more than 20,210 in 2019 before declining in 2021 to about 17,920. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of enrolments in subjects not delivered as part of a nationally recognised program peaked in 2018 at approximately 6,250 then declined to 3,810 in 2020, before returning to about 5,480 in 2021.
In 2021, program enrolments were concentrated in three qualification levels, namely certificate IV (39%), diploma or higher (34%) and certificate II (26%) and approximately three-quarters (75%) were in Mechanical and maintenance qualifications. The most common intended occupation from undertaking Aerospace-related qualifications in 2021 was Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical).
Enterprise providers delivered more than half (58%) of Aerospace-related qualifications in 2021, followed by TAFE institutes (30%). However, there was some variation depending on the different qualifications. Overall, approximately 73% of enrolments were government funded in 2021, with 26% funded via domestic fee for service arrangements, although this varied depending on the provider type.
Queensland had the highest proportion of students (37%) enrolled in Aerospace-related training qualifications, followed by New South Wales (28%), Western Australia (10%) and Northern Territory (9%). Training was mainly delivered in Queensland (43%) and New South Wales (29%).
Overall, apprenticeship and traineeship commencements in Aerospace related qualifications declined, from approximately 520 in 2012 to 490 in 2021. They reached their lowest point (around 350) in 2016 before increasing each year to 2022. The number of completions has also decreased over the same period, from approximately 630 in 2012 to about 260 in 2021.
The main intended occupations from apprenticeships and traineeships in Aerospace-related qualifications were Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) (63%), and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) (33%). New South Wales had the highest proportion of apprentices and trainees in training (62%) in 2021, followed by Queensland (21%).
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The Aerospace IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast was the last skills forecast published by the IRC. It identified specific areas requiring further skill development, namely skills in maintenance of ageing aircraft and understanding of composite materials as priority areas for skill development. In addition, the five generic workforce skills listed as being most important are:
In a survey conducted by IBSA Manufacturing (see the 2019 Skills Forecast), industry respondents from across all states and territories identified an ageing workforce and a shortage of skilled workers as key workforce challenges for the Aerospace sector. Addressing the ageing workforce was impacted by constraints to the supply of skilled employees.
According to the 2019 Skills Forecast, industry consultations indicated businesses were reluctant to take on new young people as graduates were unable to obtain licences without significant additional inputs. However, industry was confident that alignment between the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirements and VET requirements would significantly improve conditions for recruitment of younger people to the industry.
A project comprising two stages is progressing the alignment of VET qualifications with industry’s licensing requirements. The first stage was approved by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) and received Ministerial endorsement, with training package components expected to be available by the end of 2022. The second stage requires the upgrade of 78 units and three qualifications and, as of November 2022, is flagged as a priority project to start in 2023.
Further, the 2019 Skills Forecast indicated the lack of harmonisation of Australia’s regulations with other leading aviation countries was another issue impacting the supply of skilled workers. The National Emerging Aviation Technologies Policy Statement indicated international harmonisation in training and competency requirements will be pursued. Separately, but related to the issue to the supply of skills, the Australian Government’s Women in the Aviation Industry Initiative may help the aviation industry meet future demands for skilled workers.
The 2019 Skills Forecast also reported the advance in technologies, including on-board digital automation and production methods would likely to continue to challenge the aviation industry. Further, technology-based solutions and more automated maintenance were expected to increase demand for analytical skills, digital literacy, information management and the development and implementation of mobile applications.
The former Training and Skills Commission (now the South Australian Skills Commission) report Aerospace Workforce Insights stated COVID-19 had increased demand for automation, including autonomous vehicles, in the aviation industry. Indeed, an area of growth was drone technology, and the Aviation Industry Reference Committee proposed to develop a new qualification to address skills and knowledge requirements for operators. Nationally, the Australian Government’s National Emerging Aviation Technologies Policy Statement outlined how the Government will support people, businesses and industry to adopt new and emerging digital aviation technology.
Additionally, digital transformation has resulted in technological advances in air traffic control operations and control towers are rapidly becoming more digitised, which will require upskilling of air traffic controllers.
Separately, the Aerospace Workforce Insights report finds data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning skills will be needed to support the growing space industry.
The Queensland Aerospace 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan stated that industry raised concerns about potential shortages of skilled engineers in the aerospace manufacturing base within five to six years, however Australia has both a strong need and opportunity to help meet this expected shortfall in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region.
Separately, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to the aviation and many large aerospace manufacturers, according to the Aerospace Workforce Insights report, and recovery will take time.
COVID-19 has caused significant disruption to the aviation and many large aerospace manufacturers, according to the Aerospace Workforce Insights report, and recovery will take time. To help manage impacts of the COVID-19 downturn and support recovery, the Australian Government has released The Future of Australia’s Aviation Sector: Issues Paper to seek industry and community views which will inform the Government’s Five-Year Plan for Aviation.
Below is a list of industry relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.
Aerospace IRC
Aerospace Workforce Insights – Training and Skills Commission (South Australia)
Alignment of VET Qualifications with Aerospace Licensing Regulations – IBSA Group
National Emerging Aviation Technologies Policy Statement – Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Queensland Aerospace 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan – Queensland Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
Women in the Aviation Industry - Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council
Australian Helicopter Industry Association
Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL)
Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA)
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Regional Aviation Association of Australia
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU)
Communication Electrical & Plumbing Union – Electrical Trades Division
National Skills Commission 2022, Occupation Employment Projections viewed 10 August 2022, https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/topics/employment-projections
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022, 6291.0.55.001 - EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards, viewed 1 August 2022, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/may-2022
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017, 2016 Census – employment, income and unpaid work, TableBuilder. Findings based on use of ABS TableBuilder data.
Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET students and courses from the following training package or qualifications:
MEA Aeroskills Training Package:
This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.
Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:
Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.
Low counts (less than 5) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.
Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. This can lead to situations where the total sum of proportions in a chart may not add up to exactly 100%.
MEA Aeroskills Training Package apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:
