Aviation jobs take off in Dallas

Aviation and aerospace are booming in North Texas, pitting companies against each other for a limited pool of workers, industry experts said at an Axios Live event at Dallas Executive Airport on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The need for workers extends far beyond air traffic controllers and pilots, spanning both commercial and business aviation.

While many industries have contracted in recent years, aerospace companies are always on the hunt for more workers. Some are now trying to appeal to prospective future talent as early as elementary school.

The latest: GE Aerospace, which sponsored Wednesday's Axios Live event, announced that its foundation will spend $1 million on workforce training to develop a stronger talent pipeline into the industry.

The money will fund efforts such as adding instructors at Dallas College and boosting enrollment for the aviation maintenance technician labs at Tarrant County College.

The intrigue: Jobs in aviation pay well and tend to be stable — but the industry isn't always top of mind for job seekers looking to transition out of other industries, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas CEO Laura Ward said.

What they're doing: Companies such as GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and Bell are collaborating more with each other — and with local community colleges — to address the gap.

"The pros are you have a huge workforce. The cons are there's a lot of competitors for that workforce. And so I think we've got to kind of transform our minds that we can't be competitors anymore," said Michael Patton, a VP at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

What we're watching: How AI and automation impact an industry where attention to detail and hands-on work are valued.