Recognizing trends in industry and higher education: A women in aviation approach

Aviation plays a crucial role in both the national and global economy. People are connected, economic growth is supported, and humanitarian efforts are facilitated worldwide through air transport. Even though aviation has a global reach, the industry is not diverse in all areas, including training, airline operations, and military aviation. Women make up under 5% of pilots worldwide, and current enrollment trends in aviation programs indicate that significant improvements in diversity are unlikely without a dedicated effort for change. This underrepresentation persists even though expanding the field to include women would contribute to alleviating the well-documented pilot shortage and shortages in other aviation professions, such as mechanics and aeronautical engineers. Unlike studies related to engineering, medicine, and law, research into the elements affecting diversity in aviation has not garnered significant attention from scholars. The anticipated rise in travel demand over the next two decades makes it essential to better comprehend these diversity issues in light of current and impending shortages of aviation labor.