Navigating The Labor Black Hole: Space Industry Desperate For Skilled Workers

The space industry is currently grappling with a significant labor challenge that could hinder its growth potential. While some analysts project the space economy to be valued at up to $1 trillion by 2030, this growth requires a robust, skilled workforce, which the industry is finding difficult to maintain, according to an article published by Axios. 

Major space companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX are actively hiring, with hundreds of open positions. These companies require skilled professionals to construct satellites, rockets, and other essential components for space missions. Concurrently, established aerospace and defense firms, as well as NASA, are striving to attract younger talent, according to Axios. A notable statistic from the Space Foundation reveals that only 17% of NASA’s workforce is below 35 years of age. As of 2021, it’s reported that the aerospace and defense workforce in the U.S. comprised approximately 2.1 million individuals. 

The demand for skilled workers is causing the competition for talent to intensify, especially as companies are recruiting in anticipation of future projects.  

This surge in demand for skilled workers coincides with a decline in the number of individuals graduating with engineering degrees in the U.S. Tom Roeder, from the Space Foundation, informed Axios that the number of engineers at the four-year level dropped by about 100,000 from 2017 to 2022. However, the industry’s needs aren’t limited to engineers with advanced degrees. It’s reported that technical roles like welders and machinists, which may not necessitate advanced degrees, are also in very high demand.  

In the broader context, space companies are not only competing with each other for talent, but also with various other industries such as tech, healthcare, and banking. The perception that the space industry demands extensive math and is challenging might be deterring potential candidates.  

To address this, some experts, like Mike French of the Aerospace Industries Association, suggest simplifying job descriptions by reducing jargon and removing unnecessary degree prerequisites. 

As the space industry grows, the demand for specialized skills will only intensify.