UK Aerospace and Defence demographics statistics wanted

An article on demographic trends in the US Aerospace and Defence (A&D) sector caught my eye a few months back and I’ve been contemplating a response ever since.

Aviation Week (16th August 2010) revealed the findings from the 2010 Aviation Week Workforce Study – and it makes for very interesting reading:

• Just under one-third (30%) of the US Aerospace and Defence workforce is aged 50-59
• 40% of the workforce in larger companies (over 100,000 employees) will be eligible to retire by 2014
• The figure for smaller companies (under 50,000 employees) is 34%
• Those with fewer than 10,000 employees expect 20% to become eligible to retire in 2014

These figures could leave a massive baby boomer sized hole in the recruitment policies of A&D companies across the US. Of course the US economy’s fragile state has prompted a drop in retirement rates over the past two years, but any recovery could see this trend reversed.

According to the article, A&D companies are taking steps to offset the impact of baby boomers leaving en masse. Actions already in place include ‘transition to retirement’ plans and more flexible work schedules.

I don’t know about you, but I would be interested to find out whether the UK A&D sector is facing a similar demographic problem over the coming decade. Does anyone have access to the statistics or can you point me in the right direction?