US Aerospace employment increased just slightly in March to 651,700, compared to the 2007 year-end average of 645,600, according to the Aerospace Industries Association.
Aerospace employment has climbed steadily since hitting a 2003 low of 587,100.
Employment is tied closely to industry sales, which reached a record $198.8 billion in 2007 and are expected to eclipse $210 billion in 2008, AIA said.
The industry is facing a potential workforce "crisis" as longtime employees retire. Almost six in 10 US aerospace workers was at least 45 years old last year.
AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said in a statement: "As the workers that won the Space Race and the Cold War get ready to retire, there is a whole world of opportunity in this industry. We can't encourage the next generation of workers enough to study math and science so as to take advantage of the enormous number of exciting career opportunities."
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