Airbus, the world's leading aircraft manufacturer, is committed to ensuring that at least 25 percent of its new recruits in 2012 will be women despite the low number of women studying engineering subjects. With the aim to hire 4000 people worldwide this year, Airbus is calling for more women to apply for jobs in sectors that are traditionally seen as male dominated.

Airbus is developing women's careers at all levels of the company with the objective to broaden its know-how and soft skills on managerial capabilities, by increasing the number of women in management positions. To support this, a number of specific actions have been introduced to prepare and promote women at different levels by identifying female talents and their career path through internal development programs such as mentoring, coaching, and leadership development amongst others.

"Airbus wants to attract more women and it is not simply about achieving quotas and targets. I am convinced that a more balanced proportion of women at all levels of the company can only improve Airbus' performance", explained Thierry Baril, Airbus Executive Vice President, Human Resources. "Offering equal chances is an essential corner stone of the Airbus corporate culture", he added.

Employing more than 55,000 people worldwide, of over 100 nationalities, Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China, Japan and in the Middle East. Some 4,500 new employees were recruited in 2011, driven by an order backlog equivalent to 7-8 years production and the continued development of aircraft programs such as A320neo (new engine option), and the A350 XWB Family. Airbus has sold close to 11,500 aircraft and delivered over 7,000 since its first airliner entered service.

Contributed by Airbus S.A.S.