Flight Instructors

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment of aircraft pilots will grow about as fast as the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033, with jobs being added in various industries, including support activities for air transportation. Demand will grow for instructors in the U.S. and in emerging markets as a result of an expected pilot shortage in the coming years. An estimated 674,000 new pilots (including 123,000 in North America) will be needed worldwide during the next two decades, according to Boeing's 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook. Many pilots will reach the retirement age of 65, and replacements will be needed.

The growth rate of the flight instructor field depends on the overall condition of the economy. When the economy is bad, fewer people will be able to afford such expenses as flying lessons. With a decrease in student enrollment, flight schools will hire fewer instructors. Additionally, instructors who are working will be more likely to keep those jobs than to move into other positions, such as airline pilot, and make way for new flight instructors.