The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) has released the results of its first member survey.  The report, “The Satellite Industry Workforce 2009,” reveals some surprising and a few not so surprising results based on responses from SSPI members around the world. Key findings of the report, include:

• The satellite industry is not a “graying” business.  The age distribution of satellite professionals is remarkably even, with 43 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 39 and 80 percent of respondents under the age of 54.
• The industry pays satellite industry employers to invest in training and development. Nearly 65 percent of employees who have 6-15 years in the industry have worked for their current employer 6-15 years.
The industry suffers from striking gender disparity that is unlikely to improve soon.
• Approximately 80 percent of industry employees are male, and the proportions hold up across all ages, though not across all job functions.
• People who work in the industry are proud to recognize it as a distinct sector of the global telecom industry.  A large majority, when asked what they do for a living, say “I work in the satellite industry.

“There have been a lot of anecdotal assumptions about the satellite industry workforce, but no hard numbers backing or refuting any of those to date,” said Tamara Bond, SSPI Membership Director and author of the report.  “In order to better support the professional development needs of the industry, SSPI felt it was imperative to first look at the make-up of the industry and gain insight into those who call themselves ‘satellite professionals’.  The survey yielded a wealth of information about the people we work with as well as the apparent health and stability of the industry, at least from the viewpoint of the employees.”  The report and a video with the author are available by selecting the graphic.