New Zealand's aircraft servicing industry has declined in 2008-09 and the chances of getting a job have fallen. This has been caused by the global recession, which has meant fewer people are travelling by air, and there is less work for aircraft engineers.
Air New Zealand taking on half the number of aircraft engineer trainees it did last last year
The country's largest employer of aircraft engineers, Air New Zealand, says it still intends to employ about 50 trainees in 2009 who have completed the National Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering – Level 3. This is about half the number employed in previous years.
Some other employers report they have stopped hiring new staff in 2009 and few vacancies are arising.
Long-term prospects more positive
Employment opportunities are expected to increase when the economy recovers because up until the recession began in 2008, the aviation industry was experiencing passenger growth of between 5% and 10% a year. This growth had created a shortage of aircraft engineers.
Census figures show the number of aircraft engineers and technicians grew between 1996 and 2001, and then remained about the same until 2006.
Number of aircraft engineers/technicians in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)| Census | Number of aircraft engineers/technicians |
|---|
| 1996 | 2,757 |
| 2001 | 3,066 |
| 2006 | 3,054 |
| Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicator Tool. |
