Outlook
Employment for air traffic controllers is expected to grow at a rate that is slower than the average for all occupations through 2032, showing little or no change, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Competition for air traffic control positions will be strong, and implementing the NextGen satellite-based system is expected to increase controllers' ability to manage even more air traffic at one time, thus reducing the number of needed controllers.
In December 2021, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association indicated that about 23 percent of air traffic controllers were eligible for retirement.
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