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Aerospace industry a great opportunity for Oklahoma
April 30, 2007
Journal Record
By Phil G. Busey
Oklahoma has a strong aerospace industry and a critical report released to the Governor’s
Council on Workforce Development found that the industry, which generates $12.4
billion annually and employs 72,500, is facing a serious shortage of workers sooner
than later. This is a potentially huge problem if we do not address the shortfalls.
This has been brewing and of concern to the industry for years. We are reaching
a critical juncture with an aging workforce and a lack of qualified replacements.
Compounding this is the lack of career awareness in our schools for these
positions and providing the engineering and aviation curriculums needed.
The Governor can chose to lead an aggressive effort to bring together resources
from education, government and industry to meet this challenge but go farther to
provide a platform for new and additional employees for the Aerospace industry.
We can make Oklahoma an aerospace training, operations and employment hub.
The recommendations in the report are a beginning but we must go farther. We must
implement, coordinate and develop an integrated plan now. It is suggested industry
alliances exist that can coordinate an effort but the only real solution is to empower
a state Aerospace Council with teeth, funds and resources to act. It will take everyone
at the table-together.
We have Tinker, Vance Air Force Base and Altus Air Force Base. In Tulsa we have
commercial facilities including American Airlines, Boeing, Nordam and Spirit Aero.
This industry is a key to Oklahoma’s future economy. Supporting industry job growth
can expand a ripple effect for new jobs in support businesses. We can be the best
for aviation career training, operations and development.
Companies actively seek solutions for their next generation of workers. The report
stated that the Aerospace industry will add up to 6,500 new jobs before 2014 but
will require replacement of 15,100 retirees. We have an opportunity!
We can develop the capabilities not only to replace the shortages but offer programs
to supply jobs industry wide as an incentive for relocation or expansion. The
report cites the average age of the engineers at Tinker alone is 54 years and skilled
workers 51. Significantly, 50% of these workers are eligible for retirement. These
are high paying jobs. Alone, it is important enough to protect Tinker insuring future
growth among aerospace companies there but also statewide. We should “dream
big” to be the aerospace state offering comprehensive workforce development for
this industry.
In this age of global competition we have to innovatively support the businesses
here and fuel expansion with needed workers. Companies seek human resource pipelines
and many add or expand facilities in states that offer the human resource pipeline
they need. Why not us?
By supporting a strong recruiting, training and educational focus we can build our
future on aerospace. We can grow our economy by being the best at offering the solutions
to meet next generation workforce requirements right here. Governor, the report
is in. It is now time to lead this state into a new economic era built on this industry.
Phil G. Busey is chairman and CEO of the Busey Group of Companies.
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5721 NW 132nd Street
OKC, OK 73142
Ph: 405.721.7776
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