Bridging the Talent Divide: Urgent Action Required to Tackle Skills Deficits in Aerospace and Space Industries

There is an escalating necessity for cultivating skills in the realms of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) due to a global skills deficit, which poses a barrier to the advancement and expansion of various industries, including aerospace, space, and defense unless governments and corporations collaborate to tackle this challenge.

The inability of young individuals to pinpoint and acquire the competencies required for the contemporary job market has led to a 12% decrease in youth employment over the last two decades,^[1] as highlighted by a report from Generation Unlimited, PwC, and UNICEF. With the employment landscape requiring a broader array of intricate skills than ever before, it is imperative for governments and businesses to unite in providing youth with the abilities and opportunities essential for accessing fulfilling employment.

Aerospace and space enterprises intend to recruit significantly more personnel in the forthcoming decade, generating numerous STEM career paths. However, an extensive skills gap confronts organizations needing to fill these positions.

In the aerospace talent outlook survey findings report, Ernst & Young^[2] revealed that corporate respondents anticipate the skills they will value most from university recruits in the next four to five years are engineering capabilities (81% of participants), data science and analytics proficiencies (41%), and digital expertise (28%). To acquire these competencies, strategic workforce planning is indispensable for the industry’s future.

To equip the aerospace and space sectors for future progress and evolution, the Global Aerospace Summit will reintroduce the NextGen Leaders program, emphasizing the enhancement of workforce capacity and skills. The high-profile forum, organized by Mubadala, will convene at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi from May 24-26, 2022.

Targeted at students, graduates, and young professionals, the NextGen Leaders program spans three days at the Summit and features panel discussions, networking sessions, mentorship experiences, workshops, and university showcases. The initiative is designed to empower stakeholders to cultivate talent in the aerospace domain while serving as a platform to spotlight promising young individuals to potential employers for career development.

One of the NextGen panels, titled ‘The New Face of Manufacturing’, will delve into the aerospace sector’s effectiveness in attracting talent. A discussion panel will examine whether promotional strategies related to relevant product development and manufacturing assist, and if technologies such as virtual prototyping, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, and robotics represent the evolving landscape of manufacturing processes that support talent acquisition. The panelists include Hala Al-Zargani, Manager, Lockheed Martin Center for Innovation and Security Solutions, Noura Al Braiki, Production Manager, Strata Manufacturing, and Fatema Ali Al Hajri – EVP – Products & Solutions Engineering, Technical, Yahsat.

“Future generations must possess the appropriate skillset to thrive in today’s advanced global economy,” stated Hala Al-Zargani, Manager at Lockheed Martin Center for Innovation and Security Solutions.

“To date, more than 100 gifted Emirati students have participated in training at Lockheed Martin’s Center for Innovation and Security Solutions in Abu Dhabi, receiving specialized STEM instruction on realistic aerospace and defense initiatives. Supported by our partners, we aim to enhance our robust pipeline of adept young engineers and scientists, preparing them for essential roles within the country’s defense and national security sectors.”

Timothy Hawes, Managing Director of Tarsus, Middle East remarked: “This year, the NextGen Leaders program returns with a fresh commitment to preparing the workforce of the future in the realms of space and aerospace. We are thrilled that various industry experts will share their knowledge to guide discussions toward solutions, in addition to participating in mentorships and workshops for the benefit of students, graduates, and young professionals in these fields. Through this initiative, we aspire to bridge the skills gap and ensure the effectiveness and longevity of these sectors.”

Moreover, NextGen Leaders, in collaboration with the Space Generation Advisory Council and supported by Safran, will establish a mentorship platform that provides students and young professionals with pragmatic insights from industry leaders on how to initiate or advance their careers.

A leaders’ panel and networking opportunity will also be held in partnership with AmCham, where C-suite executives will discuss the advantages of careers within the aerospace sector. The dialogue will conclude with a Q&A segment and an informal networking session.

The Summit boasts an outstanding three-day agenda comprising panel discussions and presentations on the broader aerospace, defense, aviation, and space industries. Additionally, the 2022 event will incorporate new features such as a dedicated startup mentorship clinic led by Aerospace Xelerated, along with technology leadership briefings concentrated on the deployment of technology within the aerospace field.