North America will need 125,000 new aviation maintenance technicians over the next 20 years, according to Boeing's 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook, released in July alongside the company's Services Market Outlook.

That regional figure sits inside a global projection of 728,000 new maintenance technicians through 2045. Boeing places total global demand at more than 2.4 million new commercial aviation personnel, split across 674,000 pilots, 728,000 maintenance technicians and 1,023,000 cabin crew members. Two-thirds of the demand replaces retiring personnel and one-third supports fleet growth.

North America accounts for 438,000 of the 2.4 million total, covering 122,000 pilots, 125,000 technicians and 191,000 cabin crew. Eurasia is the only region with a larger personnel requirement at 571,000, followed by China at 425,000.

On the spending side, Boeing values the North American commercial aviation support and services market at $995 billion through 2045, roughly a fifth of the $4.9 trillion global total. Eurasia leads at $1.185 trillion and China follows North America at $875 billion.

Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook projects commercial aviation demand and traffic to double over the next two decades, with near-term disruptions leaving long-term growth intact. The company identified aircraft lifecycle management, aircraft digitalization and data-driven services, geographic shifts in services needs, and retirement-driven attrition as the trends shaping the forecast period.

Chris Raymond, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, said the company sees "strong demand for services across the portfolio, new opportunities as fleets become more digitally enabled and a growing need for a skilled workforce."

Source: Boeing - https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2026-07-17-Boeing-Forecasts-4-9-Trillion-Commercial-Aviation-Support-and-Services-Market-and-Demand-for-more-than-2-4-Million-New-Aviation-Personnel-Over-20-Years