The French aeronautics and space sector recorded a strong rebound in its activity in 2022, stimulated by the resumption of air traffic, but must imperatively recruit to meet demand, its officials said on Thursday.
Aeronautics, space and defense turnover increased by 13.6% last year to 62.7 billion euros, of which two-thirds (40.9 billion) came export, said the Group of French aeronautical and space industries (Gifas) during a press conference.
From 74.3 billion euros in 2019, the turnover of the sector had fallen in 2020 to 52.9 billion, under the effect of Covid-19.
After the "
most serious crisis
" that the sector has known, it is experiencing a "
very dynamic recovery not only in the short term, but also when we look to the future
", noted the president of Gifas, Guillaume Faury, also Executive Chairman of Airbus.
This optimism is fueled by the volume of orders, which represented 65.8 billion euros in 2022 after being halved in 2020 to 30.9 billion.
The range has changed profoundly since in 2019, defense captured only 26% of orders against 60% in 2022, a "
very very strong
" level, according to Guillaume Faury who hailed the success of export programs, including the Rafale combat aircraft and helicopters.
But this demand, which has returned to pre-crisis levels, is coming up against production capacities that are still constrained, which "
generates (tensions) on the ramp-up
", conceded Guillaume Faury, whose company is struggling to pick up the pace. deliveries of its flagship single-aisle A320s.
In addition to the scarcity of raw materials and electronic components, companies face a shortage of labor as they want to recruit 25,000 people in 2023,
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Companies “
cannot run their equipment because they have no one to put on it
”, summed up Clémentine Gallet, president of the Gifas committee in charge of SMEs: this is what “
tends the recovery the most. and the capacity of the sector to produce
”.
Gifas is counting in particular on the Bourget air show, which it organizes at the end of June, to attract high school students, students and job seekers, admitted free of charge.
Among the most sought-after profiles: technicians, in particular fitters and boilermakers, guaranteed to be hired on attractive financial terms, according to Ms. Gallet.
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