What percent of hires in maintenance in the last five years were DEI?
When you punish talent you get less of it.
Training won't help when the problem is pay and compensation.
There's a reason the auto tech training schools are always advertising: there's an inordinate number of former auto mechanics out there. In some areas of the country the pay isn't enough for the high costs of living.
I was in aviation maintenance one way or another for 37 years.
That career path allowed me to retire before 60 years old.
1) Get a skilled trade education: good.
2) Get a STEM college degree: good.
3) Get any other college degree: mostly a waste of time and money.
I advise young folks just out of high school to pick either option #1 or #2.
But if they are determined to pick option #3, take a year off first and work in fast food. Then your mind will be right. Go back and pick either option #1 or #2.
“expand the “529” qualified-tuition program to include expenses for aviation maintenance and pilot training”
If we are going to expand what 529s cover it should be for all work/career training, not just for industries that a senator favors.
Back in the somewhat old days, the USAF was the training ground for airplane mechanics, as well as electronics (cf. my Dad) and piloting.
My youngest wanted to be an A&P technician until reality hit. Long hours on the swing shift out on the tarmac for low pay in crappy conditions. He’s an aerospace digital manufacturing tech (high tech machinist). He started as a paid intern in college, was making nearly six figures plus after graduation abd has never looked back.
Being an A&P should be a great job, but the way the airlines structure it, it sucks to break into. Things need to change.