By Kendra Kincade for Edmonton Journal
Alberta is often celebrated for its beautiful mountains, sprawling farmland, and energy-rich resources, but a different kind of energy is taking flight and to see it you just have to look up.
The aviation and aerospace sector is emerging as Alberta’s next superpower, poised to attract global investment and drive economic growth through advancements in robotics, space exploration, clean aviation technologies, decarbonization, cutting-edge drone technology, and AI. This industry has the potential to elevate Alberta’s future to unprecedented heights, but like many sectors, it faces a critical challenge: How can it sustain growth without the skilled workforce needed to fill its expanding roles?
As CEO of Elevate Aviation — a national, not-for-profit organization based in Edmonton — I can tell you that it is a question being asked worldwide, but we have an answer.
I first want to paint a picture of the state of the industry. Based on a Transport Canada report in 2023, there will be an estimated shortfall of 42,000 to 55,000 workers in aviation from 2025 to 2035. Specific roles such as pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft maintenance engineers are heavily impacted. The industry will need 7,300 more pilots by 2025, but fewer than 1,200 commercial pilot licences are issued annually, with 30 per cent of those pilots not even entering the industry.
Similarly, there is a demand for 5,300 new aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) by 2025, but Canadian colleges graduate only about 600 AMEs annually. Shortages also extend to customer service roles, including flight attendants and airport staff. These labour gaps are a driving force behind long waits, flight cancellations, and delays we all experience, making it harder for travellers to reach their destinations smoothly What we are doing as an industry right now is not enough. Elevate Aviation is helping to create sustainability by making pathways for underrepresented groups — especially women — to enter careers in aviation. By ensuring a holistic approach to mentorship, community engagement, skills training, and a culture of belonging, we aim to increase the number of women in aviation. Currently, women represent less than three per cent of aircraft maintenance engineers, seven per cent of pilots, and 17 per cent of air traffic controllers — highlighting a vast market of potential aviators to engage.
To attract more people to this industry, Elevate Aviation is transforming the way people look at aviation. This includes removing barriers to entry, battling misconceptions, and introducing aviation to those who have never considered a career in the industry. Our kindergarten-to-career approach introduces aviation concepts to children beginning at age five and builds immersive and experiential opportunities for youth and adults entering the workforce.
By empowering women and underrepresented groups to enter the workforce, we are not only transforming lives and creating economic opportunities that can ripple across generations but also addressing the aviation industry’s critical labor shortage.
Additionally, by partnering with organizations across the aviation sector, Elevate Aviation is undertaking the important work to create safe and healthy workplaces prioritizing inclusivity, respect, and opportunity. These partnerships are crucial for addressing industry-wide challenges, from labour shortages to fostering innovation, ensuring a unified approach to building a stronger aviation ecosystem. Together, we’re making aviation a more attractive and sustainable career path, where individuals from diverse backgrounds can achieve their potential and contribute to the industry’s long-term success and global competitiveness.
Elevate Aviation has positioned Alberta as a global leader in innovative solutions to increase representation in the industry. Although there is progress to be made, we are beginning to see a shift, as more women take flight in aviation — with Elevate Aviation at the helm of this change. Through our groundbreaking work, Elevate Aviation is fueling economic growth, creating opportunities for Albertans, and charting a course toward a brighter, more sustainable future for the province and the students who walk through our doors.
If you’re seeking a career that takes you to greater heights, check out Elevate Aviation. With opportunities to thrive in a dynamic industry, Elevate Aviation could be your perfect runway to help you soar to new heights.
Kendra Kincade is the CEO of Elevate Aviation, chair of Alberta Aviation and Aerospace Council, vice-chair of the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council (SAAC), and an air traffic controller
