Aviation supports 56 million jobs
March 30, 2012, 08:23 am
A recent study from the Air Transport Action Group by Oxford Economics found the aviation industry generates and supports more than 56 million jobs worldwide.
The study was presented at the two-day conference on aviation and the environment organized by the ATAG. The report showed gross domestic product created and maintained by the aviation industry totalled $2.2 trillion. Plus, of the 56.6 million jobs sourced from aviation, 8.4 million were directly employed in the industry, 9.3 million in industry suppliers and 4.4 million generated through spending by industry employees. The tourism sector created by aviation employed 34.5 million jobs.
"When you take into account the further benefits from the speed and reliability of air travel, the businesses that exist because air freight makes them possible ... the economic impact would be several times larger," said Paul Steele, ATAG executive director.
The report underscored the value of the aviation industry to both the U.S. economy and markets abroad. The African economy, for example, attributes 6 million jobs and $67.8 billion in gross domestic product to the aviation industry.
"In Africa alone, aviation directly employs over 250,000 people," Steele said. "When you take into account the further benefits gained through the speed and reliability of air travel, the businesses that exist because air freight makes them possible and the intrinsic value to the economy of improved connectivity, the economic impact would be several times larger."
Asia-Pacific economies, likewise, are reaping the benefits of advances in aviation as well. The report showed more than 24 million jobs and $470 billion in gross domestic product stem from the aviation sector in the Asia-Pacific region. The report projected the number of passengers in Asia-Pacific region could almost triple from 779.6 million in 2010 to more than 2.2 billion by 2030. Cargo volumes are expected to increase 6.3 percent a year, as aviation continues to boom.
This report highlights the fact that the Asia-Pacific region already accounts for 34% of passenger traffic worldwide, ahead of both Europe and North America (27% each), led by dynamic growth in the major emerging economies," said Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. "Looking ahead, the Oxford Economics analysis suggests further growth can provide an additional 1.4 million jobs in aviation across the region by 2030 - and if you include the tourism benefits, up to 4.6 million jobs."
As aviation continues to grow, pilots should stay focused on the basics such as pilot insurance to keep the skies safe.
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