Despite recovery, experts highlight potential hiring bottlenecks in the aviation industry.
SINGAPORE: While Singapore’s aviation industry appears to be faring better in rehiring workers compared to cities in Europe and the U.S., experts warn that challenges still lie ahead as the sector recovers from the pandemic.
With the easing of border restrictions and a resurgence in travel demand, aviation firms in Singapore are actively recruiting for a variety of positions, including cargo handlers, cabin crew, engineers, and roles in marketing and administration.
In contrast, airports and airlines in Europe and the U.S. faced significant disruptions and canceled flights due to sudden surges in travel demand, which were partly attributed to staffing shortages. Reports indicated that London’s Heathrow Airport requested airlines to cancel flights as baggage began to accumulate, leading to long queues and delays for passengers across Europe and Australia.
In Singapore, there are thousands of job openings within the aviation sector. In May, the Changi Airport Group reported over 6,600 available positions. Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat noted last month at the OneAviation Careers job fair that nearly 2,000 vacancies urgently need to be filled. The two-day recruitment event attracted more than 11,000 job seekers and aviation enthusiasts, as shared by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
The CAAS plans to launch the OneAviation Careers Hub web portal in the third quarter of 2022, designed to provide information about aviation jobs, training opportunities, and career conversion programs.
Mr. Subhas Menon, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), remarked that the labor shortage in the aviation industry is a global issue. The hiatus during the pandemic caused many workers to leave the industry and migrant workers to return to their home countries.
“It’s not just about finding workers, but about finding qualified ones. Air transport is a specialized industry, and those returning need to undergo training or retraining,” he stated. However, he believes that Asia’s situation may not be as dire as in other regions.
“My impression is that redundancies were relatively lower in Asia, so it should not be too challenging to ramp up operations, although it takes time to hire and train personnel. It’s not as simple as turning a tap on or off, as safety remains paramount,” Mr. Menon added. “We need to bring excitement back to the industry, as the past two years will be remembered for the difficulties faced by aviation and its workforce.”
Industry Hiring Insights
Local companies report a surge in hiring and a healthy pool of applicants, although certain specialized roles remain difficult to fill. Singapore Airlines (SIA) resumed its cabin crew recruitment drive in March and has since selected over 800 applicants, with around 60 percent being returning crew members. A spokesperson noted that the airline received “several thousand” applications, a number three to four times greater than pre-COVID levels.
Ground handler and in-flight catering service provider SATS advertised about 600 positions and has successfully filled most of them. The company even offered a joining bonus of S$5,000 to attract candidates.
“We are thrilled to see an increase in travel of all types. Anticipating recovery, we are ramping up operations across the company to meet customer demands,” stated Ms. Lilian Tan, chief human capital officer at SATS.
Mr. Musdalifa Abdullah, managing director of dnata Singapore, mentioned that the company aims to recruit and train approximately 200 new employees. He noted a strong turnout at the OneAviation career fair, with over 300 applicants. “We are currently busy reviewing applications and conducting interviews, with some candidates already receiving job offers,” he added.
Despite these positive signs, there remain challenges in hiring for specialized roles that necessitate industry experience. Mr. Abdullah emphasized that dnata is actively recruiting through educational partnerships, job portals, and career fairs while reaching out to individuals previously employed in COVID-related roles.
Some companies also struggle to fill rank-and-file positions in the air cargo industry, according to the SAAA@Singapore trade association. They estimate that about 5 percent of vacancies among member companies remain unfilled.
Executive Director Pauline Tok noted that recruitment for rank-and-file roles, especially at the Changi Airfreight Centre and ALPS, has been particularly difficult due to accessibility issues. She remarked that candidates are job-hopping and, in some cases, have not reported for work after accepting offers.
“The job market is very much at the mercy of candidates, who are spoiled for choice,” Ms. Tok added, noting that the sector has increased wages and introduced flexible work arrangements to attract talent.
Addressing Workforce Challenges
In the security sector, Certis shortlisted around 100 candidates for various roles from the OneAviation Career Fair last month, with over 500 vacancies available for roles like command centre support officers and aviation security officers. Mr. Andy Tan, vice president and head of Certis Aviation Security, mentioned that the firm is also reallocating former aviation security officers who were assigned to other roles during the pandemic back to the security unit.
Mr. Sia Kheng Yok, chief executive of the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore), stated that the association has been preparing for this recovery since last year. An education advisory panel was formed to address talent-related issues affecting the aerospace industry’s repositioning and recovery.
“We are working with agencies to refresh the industry’s branding and promote policies that make the sector more attractive for talent. While these efforts may not instantly resolve the complex challenges related to talent, jobs, and careers, we hope to make progress during this critical recovery phase,” Mr. Sia noted.
He estimated that approximately 3,000 positions are available for individuals with the right skills, including roles in aircraft cabin interior design, aeronautical engineering, and managerial positions. However, he acknowledged that finding qualified individuals can be challenging.
“There is a strong demand for aircraft and engineering technicians, and other industries are also competing for them. Digital transformation and the adoption of new technologies are accelerating in aerospace, but those with such expertise are also sought after by the tech sector,” Mr. Sia explained.
When comparing Singapore to other countries, he emphasized that Singapore has the advantage of an established industry cluster and a strong educational and training system.
“The educational institutions provide a steady stream of talent for the industry, and we are attractive to global skills and talent needed to complement our strong local workforce,” he said.
Despite this advantage, experts caution that bottlenecks may arise that firms in the industry need to monitor closely. Dr. Jochen Wirtz, a professor of marketing at the National University of Singapore, expressed confidence that Singapore Airlines is unlikely to experience a labor shortage as it is a “preferred employer,” and that Changi Airport would face fewer issues than other airports.
Nevertheless, potential bottlenecks remain, including labor shortages and rising fuel prices. Dr. Wirtz identified the lack of foreign manpower as a potential obstacle as the industry ramps up.
Mr. Gary Ho, a senior lecturer in aviation management at Temasek Polytechnic, pointed out that some potential workers may hesitate to join the industry due to fears of another COVID-19 wave and the possibility of further industry shutdowns.
He highlighted the intense competition for talent from other sectors, noting that the hospitality industry is vying for the same pool of frontline workers while IT and banking sectors often offer higher salaries than the aviation industry for executive roles.
“The aviation sector must seriously consider how to attract and retain workers by reviewing their pay scales,” he advised.
Additionally, he remarked that the aviation industry in Singapore heavily relies on foreign workers, as the pay for frontline roles may not appeal to local job seekers. “Aviation companies need to develop effective manpower strategies, such as designing roles for the significant number of seniors in Singapore,” he suggested.
“Implementing flexible working hours and part-time schemes could attract a wider range of candidates, including students, mothers, and those who may have opted for early retirement from previous jobs.”
He also recommended increasing the use of technology and automation to handle routine tasks, allowing skilled personnel to focus on providing care and assistance to those in need.
