Major hiring reversal in the works, 3,000 jobs will open up by 4Q

The Boeing Co., in a major reversal of its employment record since 9/11, is planning to hire up to 3,000 workers by the end of 2004. The majority of these new jobs will be created to support commercial jet production, including the 7E7 DreamLiner, with a smaller number being hired for military programs.

This announcement on the part of Boeing represents the first major turnaround in Boeing's hiring policies since 9/11. In fact, the Reuters news agency reports that the last time Boeing hired such a large number of people was in 1997, when it bought McDonnell Douglas and hired 75,000 of its workers.

Estimated production of airliners for 2005 has been set at some 300 aircraft, up from initial estimates of 285. Still, this is not anywhere near the record 2001 output of 527 airliners.

So far, Boeing has announced that it has booked 62 orders for the 7E7, which is slated to enter the fleet in 2008. Last month, the company also announced that it had won a US Navy contract worth nearly $4 billion to produce submarine hunters based on the 737 airframe.

FMI: www.boeing.com