The basic tasks associated with many of these jobs are learned in less than a week, and most newly hired workers are trained on the job under the guidance of an experienced employee or a manager. However, promotional opportunities for many ground occupations are limited due to the limited scope of the duties and specialized skills of some occupations. Some may advance to supervisor or other administrative positions. Top Earnings in selected occupations in air transportation appear in table 2. Most employees in the air transportation industry receive standard benefits, such as life and health insurance and retirement plans.
Some airlines provide allowances to employees for purchasing and cleaning their company uniforms.
In 1998, 40.1 percent of all workers in the air transportation industry were union members or were covered by union contracts, compared to 15.4 percent of all workers throughout the economy. Passenger and cargo traffic is expected to increase in response to increases in population, income, and business activity. Employment in other air transportation activities is also expected to rise as more aircraft are purchased for business, agricultural, and recreational purposes. Air travel has become an affordable means of transportation for more and more people. Demographic and income trends indicate favorable conditions for leisure travel in the United States over the next decade.