In the United States, women are less than 20% of the workforce in most aviation professions. This is what emerges from the recent monitoring by the American Women in Aviation Advisory Board (Wiaab), according to which in 2021 5% of American pilots were women. However, the number is expected to increase, because in the next 20 years the global industry needs 602,000 new professionals to command civil aircraft.

According to monitoring, Southwest Airlines had 413 female pilots (4% of the total). It is clear that young women are not sufficiently exposed to career opportunities in the aviation world: their ambitions can be dashed by the cost of licensing or by the challenges of balancing work and family.

A situation confirmed by many sides. The Women in Aviation organization notes that women hold just 4.6% of pilot jobs in US airlines. However, according to the American Association of University Women, they make up 28% of the workforce in STEM occupations (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The aviation sector will have to open up more to women if it wants to survive in the near future.